THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


V 


dr<> 


re»....s^  ^ 


THE   LIFE  AND  TIMES 


OF 


EDWARD  BASS 


FIRST   BISHOP   OF   MASSACHUSETTS 


BY 


DANIEL  DULANY  ADDISON 


AUTHOR   OF  "LUCY  LARCOM  :   LIFE,  LETTERS,  AND   DIARY' 


^^ftergaejgre^ 


BOSTON   AND    NEW  YORK 

HOUGHTON,   MIFFLIN   AND   COMPANY 

®bE  iStoeriJitre  ^m9,  Cambribge 

1897 


Copyright,  1897, 
By  DANIEL  DULANY  ADDISON. 

All  rights  reserved. 


TO   THE   MEMORY 
OF 

PHILLIPS    BROOKS 

SIXTH    BISHOP    OF    MASSACHUSETTS 


i'lGG6-i2 


PREFACE. 


Edwakd  Bass  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Massachu- 
setts on  the  seventh  of  May,  1797.  The  centennial 
year  of  this  event  is  chosen  as  an  appropriate  time  for 
the  pubhcation  of  his  biography,  both  as  an  honor  to 
his  memory  and  an  attempt  to  make  known  more  fully 
his  character  and  work. 

It  is  singular  that  the  first  bishops  of  other  Dio- 
ceses —  men  like  Bishop  Seabury  of  Connecticut, 
Bishop  White  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Bishop  Provoost 
of  New  York  —  should  be  so  well  known,  and  that  the 
first  bishop  in  Puritan  Massachusetts,  where  the  fight 
against  the  introduction  of  the  Episcopate  was  the 
fiercest,  should  not  be  better  known.  Yet  in  some  re- 
spects the  consecration  of  a  bishop  for  Massachusetts 
was  an  event  more  historically  significant  than  the 
making  of  a  prelate  elsewhere.  The  vagueness  that 
has  hung  about  the  life  of  Bishop  Bass  is  due  for  the 
most  part  to  the  failure  of  the  men  of  the  colonial 
and  revolutionary  periods  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  Commonwealth  to  preserve  the  permanent  records 
of  then*  faithful  ministers.  But,  when  one  makes  dili- 
gent search  for  the  facts,  it  is  a  surprise  to  see  how 
much  material  there  is  still  in  existence  about  the  first 
bishop  of  Massachusetts,  and  how  quickly  he  emerges 


vi  PREFACE. 

from  obscurity  as  a  strong  and  lovable  personality,  one 
who  occupied  a  foremost  place  in  the  deliberations  of 
the  Colonial  Church,  and  was  an  important  factor  in 
the  organization  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church. 

The  life  of  Bishop  Bass,  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end,  as  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport,  for 
fifty-one  years,  and  as  bishop  from  1797  to  1803,  is 
the  record  of  an  earnest  and  wise  minister  of  Christ. 
Entering  into  the  discussion  of  all  the  leading  ecclesi- 
astical questions  of  his  day,  and  faithfully  performing 
his  duties,  he  presents  to  the  student  a  career  of  un- 
usual picturesque  interest :  there  are  letters  and  docu- 
ments that  show  his  attitude  toward  the  controversy 
between  Jonathan  Mayhew  and  Archbishop  Seeker ;  he 
was  a  prominent  figure  in  the  conventions  of  his 
Church  before  the  Revolution,  and  first  among  those 
who  petitioned  for  a  bishop  to  be  sent  out  to  the  Colo- 
nies from  England;  and  during  the  Revolution  his 
course  was  as  unusual  as  it  was  dignified,  for  amid 
many  hardships  he  remained  as  rector  of  his  parish 
during  the  whole  period  of  the  struggle  for  Independ- 
ence. As  bishop  he  was  faithful  to  his  trust,  perform- 
ing many  acts  of  importance,  the  full  record  of  which 
has  not  been  preserved  except  as  it  is  hid  in  historical 
collections,  church  record-books,  and  Norton's  slight 
biography.  As  to  his  character,  he  was  amiable  and 
affectionate,  a  friend  of  all  and  judicious  in  dealing 
with  opponents  ;  full  of  humor,  he  was  a  charming  com- 
panion, and  greatly  respected  in  the  community  where 
he  lived.  As  a  preacher  he  was  strong  and  practical ; 
and  his  manuscript  sermons  reveal  a  style  of  preaching 


PREFACE.  vii 

not  frequent  in  his  day,  —  temperate,  logical,  and  spir- 
itual, often  epigrammatic  and  sometimes  forcible  in 
passages  of  eloquence.  A  study  of  his  life  shows  that 
Edward  Bass  was  in  every  way  worthy  to  head  the 
hst  of  Massachusetts  bishops,  which  includes  Samuel 
Parker,  Alexander  Viets  Griswold,  Manton  Eastburn, 
Benjamin  Henry  Paddock,  Phillips  Brooks,  and  Wil- 
liam Lawrence. 

This  book,  however,  is  something  more  than  a  bio- 
graphy of  Edward  Bass,  for  it  has  been  necessary,  in 
illustrating  his  life,  to  deal  with  subjects  of  more  gen- 
eral historical  interest.  It  therefore  gives  glimpses  of 
the  history  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  Episco- 
pal Church  in  Massachusetts.  It  deals  also  at  some 
length  with  the  formative  period  of  the  Church  of 
England  parishes ;  the  persecutions  they  suffered ;  the 
controversies  they  engaged  in  ;  the  ecclesiastical  causes 
that  led  to  the  Revolution  ;  the  history  of  the  parishes 
during  the  Revolution ;  the  organization  of  the  Ameri- 
can Episcopal  Church,  and  the  final  perfecting  of  the 
system  by  the  election  and  consecration  of  a  bishop. 
There  are  many  points  where  the  Church  of  England 
parishes  touched  the  larger  life  of  the  Colony  ;  and, 
being  associated  with  the  English  government,  their 
history  is  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  relations  that  ex- 
isted between  England  and  the  American  Colonies 
before  the  Revolution. 

There  is  much  material  in  the  book  that  has  never 
been  printed  before.  The  author  has  had  access  to  the 
records  of  certain  of  the  pre-revolutionary  parishes,  the 
archives  of  which  have  yielded  important  documents, 


viu  PREFACE. 

notably  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport ;  St.  Michael's 
Church,  Marblehead ;  St.  Peter's  Church,  Salem ;  and 
Trinity  Church,  Boston. 

The  striking  series  of  letters  written  by  Edward  Bass 
to  the  "  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts  "  has  been  copied  direct  from  the  ar- 
chives of  the  Society  in  England,  together  with  full 
extracts  from  the  Journal  of  the  Society,  sent  to 
America  specially  for  this  book.  The  letters  relating 
to  the  consecration  of  Bishop  Bass  have  been  received 
from  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hart,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the 
House  of  Bishops. 

The  author  desires  to  express  his  indebtedness  to 
those  who  have  helped  him  in  his  work,  and  specially 
to  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  Lawrence,  D.  D.,  Bishop 
of  Massachusetts,  for  his  active  assistance  and  counsel 
in  the  preparation  of  these  pages. 

Daniel  Dulany  Addison. 

Brookline,  Mass.,  October  4,  1897. 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

I.   Early  Life  and  Ordination 1 

II.  Origin  of  the  Church  in  Newburyport  ...  25 

III.  Ministry  in  Newburyport 50 

IV.  Controversies  and  Struggle  for  a  Bishop      .        .  77 
V.  State  of  the  Churches  in  Massachusetts  .        .        .  101 

VI.  The  Churches  during  the  Revolution     .        .        .  131 

VII.  Attitude  of  Bass  during  the  Revolution  .        .        .  175 

VIII.  Organization  of  the  Episcopal  Church   .        .        .  215 

IX.  Changes  in  the  Prayer-Book 237 

X.  Election  of  Bass  to  the  Episcopate         .        .        .  260 

XI.  The  Consecration  of  Bishop  Bass         ....  295 

XII.  The  Episcopate  of  Bishop  Bass 314 

Index 337 


LIFE    OF    BISHOP   BASS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY    LIFE. 


It  is  a  matter  of  interest  to  know  that  the  best  blood 
of  Massachusetts  flowed  in  the  veins  of  Edward  Bass. 
He  was  a  direct  descendant  of  John  Alden,  whom  tra- 
dition honors  as  the  first  passenger  of  the  Mayflower 
to  set  foot  on  Plymouth  Rock,  and  Priscilla  Mullens, 
the  fair  maiden  who  was  bold  enough  to  intimate  to 
John  that  he  ought  to  speak  for  himself  when  he  came 
to  press  the  suit  of  Miles  Standish,  brave  in  war,  but 
timid  in  love.  The  connection  between  the  first  bishop 
of  Massachusetts  and  these  Pilgrim  worthies  is  estab- 
lished by  an  item  preserved  in  the  old  Town  Records 
of  Braintree,  which  tells  the  story  that  "  on  the  12 
month,  3,  1657,  John  Bass  and  Ruth  Aulden  were 
married  by  John  Aulden  of  Duxbury."  This  Ruth 
Alden,  daughter  of  John  Alden  and  Priscilla,  was  the 
great-grandmother  of  Edward  Bass ;  and  Ruth's  hus- 
band, John  Bass,  had  also  an  illustrious  parentage, 
being  the  son  of  the  sturdy  Deacon  Samuel  Bass,  who 
came  to  New  England,  and  settled  in  Roxbury  near 
Hog  Bridge,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1630.  This  first 
American  ancestor  of  the  Bass  family,  Samuel,  soon 


2  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

removed  from  Roxbury  to  Braintree,  where  he  was 
chosen  first  deacon  of  the  church,  and  known  as  "  a 
man  of  strong  and  vigorous  mind,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  the  town  for  many  years."  ^  When  the 
deacon  died,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  years,  the  Town 
Records  referred  to  his  longevity  and  the  remarkable 
number  of  his  progeny  that  had  risen  to  call  him 
blessed,  by  spreading  upon  its  pages  the  fact  that 
"  Deacon  Samuel  Bass,  aged  94,  departed  this  life  upon 
the  30*^  day  of  Dec.  1694 ;  who  had  been  a  deacon  of 
the  church  of  Braintree  for  the  space  of  above  50 
years,  and  the  first  deacon  of  that  church;  and  was 
the  father  and  grandfather  and  great-grandfather  of 
a  hundred  and  sixty-two  children  before  he  died,  the 
youngest  whereof  was  .  .  .  born  eleven  days  before 
his  death." 

One  cannot  help  noting  the  significance  of  the  fact 
that  the  descendant  of  these  fathers  of  New  England 
Puritanism  became  in  due  course  of  time  the  man 
selected  to  be  the  first  bishop  in  the  very  territory 
which  they  supposed  would  be  ever  free  from  such 
intrusion.  What  would  John  Alden  have  thought  of 
such  logic  of  history?  If  we  may  judge  of  his  pos- 
sible opinions  on  this  subject  by  a  reference  to  those  of 
his  fellow-immigrant  and  townsman,  William  Bradford, 
Governor,  we  may  be  sure  that  he  would  not  have  taken 
the  matter  so  seriously  to  heart.  For  Bradford  in  his 
quaint  "  Dialogue  betweene  some  Young-men  borne  in 
New  England;  and  some  Ancient-men  which  came  out 
of  Holand,   and  old  England  concerning  the  church 

^  Elisha  Thayer,  Family  Memorial,  Part  I.  p.  52. 


EARLY  LIFE.  3 

and  the  government  therof,"  makes  the  "  Ancient- 
men  "  speak  thus  of  " Episcopacie  :  "  "It  will  be  need- 
ful before  we  speake  to  this  poynte  that  some  thing  be 
premised  to  prevent  mistakes.  And  first  we  accknow- 
ledg  that  bishops,  such  as  are  mentioned  in  the  holy 
Scriptures,  are  of  divine  institution  and  ordinance  of 
God.  2^^  But  lord  bishops,  invested  with  sole  spiritual 
power  and  government  and  exercising  sole  authority 
and  power  and  government  over  the  churches,  without 
their  choyse  or  consent  is  Strang  from  Scripture,  no 
institution  of  Christ,  but  a  humane  devise  and  intru- 
sion." ^  The  principal  reason  for  the  antagonism  to 
bishops  on  the  part  of  the  Puritans  is  here  distinctly 
stated  at  the  very  beginning  of  the  Plymouth  Colony, 
in  this  contrast  between  the  bishops  that  "are  men- 
tioned in  Scripture  "  and  "  my  lord  bishops."  These 
last  were  ministers  of  the  state,  heads  of  "  the  estab- 
lishment," princes  of  the  realm,  who  knew  how  to  call 
in  aid  the  secular  arm.  The  opposition  of  William 
Bradford  and  John  Alden  to  these  prelates,  active  in 
scenting  heresy,  is  no  indication  that  they  would  have 
been  disturbed  by  the  saintly  life  of  the  humble-minded 
Edward  Bass,  who  was  first  bishop,  after  apostoHc  fash- 
ion, in  the  Commonwealth. 

Edward,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Bass,  being 
directly  connected  with  the  Aldens,  was  born  in  Dor- 
chester, Massachusetts,  November  23,  1726,  and  was 
baptized  four  days  thereafter  in  the  old  First  Church. 
Two  affidavits  make  this  plain,  being  the  ones  he  doubt- 
less took  to  England  with  him   when  he  applied   for 

^  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings,  vol.  xi.  p.  428. 


4  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

ordination  in  1752.  They  have  both  been  preserved, 
and  are  good  evidence  of  the  truth  of  the  above  asser- 
tions :  — 

"  Edward,  the  son  of  Joseph  Bass  and  EHzabeth  his 
wife  was  Born  Nov.  23,  1726. 

"  True  extract  from  the  Records  of  Births  in  Dor- 
chester. 

Attest,  Noah  Clap 

Town  Clerk  of  Dorchester  " 
Also  this  certificate  of  baptism  :  — 

"  This  may  certify  that  Mr.  Edward  Bass  was  bap- 
tized in  the  Church  of  Dorchester  Nov.  27,  1726. 
As  attest,         Jonathan  Bowman 

Pastor  " 

Dorchester,  11, 1751. 

Of  the  boyhood  Hfe  of  Edward  we  know  nothing 
until  he  emerges  into  the  full  light  of  his  college  course. 
Being  a  member  of  a  large  family,  the  fourth  of  eleven 
children,  he  must  have  received  the  training  that 
comes  from  the  daily  intercourse  of  many  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  especially  so  in  his  case,  when  others  of 
the  children  were  being  prepared  with  him,  at  home 
and  in  the  schools,  for  professional  careers.  He  entered 
Harvard  College  in  1740,  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of 
age,  his  class  being  the  one  of  1744.^  The  first  refer- 
ence to  him  in  the  college  records  is  made  when  the 
freshmen  of  his  year  were  "  Plac'd,"  —  arranged  ac- 
cordinor;  to  their  standing  :  "  At  a  meetino;  of  the  Presi- 
dent  &  Tuf  May  1^*  1741  The  Freshmen  were  Plac'd 
1  Catalogus  Harvardianus,  1809. 


EARLY  LIFE.  6 

in  the  following  order ;  "  ^  then  follow  the  names  of  the 
thirty-three  members  of  the  class,  with  Bass  as  twenty- 
first.  The  class  was  a  notable  one,  for  it  had  among 
its  number  Thomas  dishing,  who  was  afterwards 
Speaker  of  the  House  in  Massachusetts  for  ten  years ; 
Jonathan  Mayhew,  whose  sermons  stirred  up  the  flames 
of  revolution,  and  whose  polemical  tracts  caused  the 
churchmen  much  annoyance;  and  Samuel  Bird,  who 
defied  the  overseers  of  the  college,  and  was  expelled. 
It  was  a  fortunate  youth  in  those  days  whose  name  was 
not  mentioned  in  the  Faculty  records.  If  he  was  a 
good  student  and  not  guilty  of  offenses  against  disci- 
pline, there  was  no  reference  to  him  throughout  his 
whole  course,  but  if  he  offended,  he  found  a  place  in 
recorded  history.  Bass  seems  to  have  passed  success- 
fully through  the  temptations  which  assailed  with  disas- 
trous results  certain  of  his  classmates,  viz.  :  "  Fetching 
Rum  ; "  "  firing  squibs  ; "  "  steahng  fowls  ;  "  "  lying  in 
examination  ; "  and  profanity.  He,  however,  did  not 
escape  mention,  though  for  a  very  mild  form  of  offense. 
It  was  the  custom  to  fine  the  students  who  did  not  re- 
turn on  time  after  vacation  was  over,  or,  as  it  was  then 
expressed,  "  after  the  vacancy  was  up."  The  college 
revenue  was  substantially  increased  by  the  levying  of 
this  fine,  at  one  time  forty-seven  students  being  fined 
a  total  of  £23  0  8.  Owing  to  this  custom,  we  have 
two  references  to  Bass,  who  otherwise  might  have 
escaped  all  notice  in  the  official  documents  of  his  col- 
lege. Such  silence  would  have  been  a  proof  of  his 
virtue,  but  less  picturesque.     In  accordance  with  the 

^  Harvard,  MSS.  Records,  vol.  i.  p.  149. 


6  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

"  Punishment  of  such  as  were  absent  from  college  after 
the  vacancy,  according  to  the  Law  provided,"  Bass  was 
fined  at  one  time  five  shillings,  and  at  another  thirteen 
shillings,  four  pence.' 

Bass  studied  the  usual  subjects  required  by  the  col- 
lege at  this  period,  the  classics,  the  Greek  Testament, 
and  Hebrew.  He  also  enjoyed  a  wider  range  of  read- 
ing, for  the  curriculum  was  enlarged  in  1742,  taking  in 
text-books  which  gave  a  much  more  extended  scope  to 
the  studies.  On  March  2,  1742,  the  faculty  "  agreed 
that  besides  the  classics  and  Greek  Testament  usually 
recited  at  College  the  books  here  following  shall  also 
be  henceforth  recited  here,  viz.  :  Compendium  Logica 
extracted  from  Le  Grand ;  Locke  on  Humane  Under- 
standing ;  Gordon's  Geographical  Grammar ;  Euclides 
Elements ;  Gravesande's  Natural  Philosophy ;  D^ 
Watts'  Astronomy."  ^  This  collection  of  books  indi- 
cates a  decided  step  forward  in  the  educational  develop- 
ment of  the  college ;  and  Bass  was  fortunate  in  being 
a  student  when  the  change  was  made.  The  influence 
of  these  authors  can  be  traced  in  his  sermons  years 
after. 

When  he  received  his  first  degree,  at  the  time  of  the 
graduation  of  his  class  in  1744,  he  decided  to  continue 
his  studies  and  remain  at  the  institution  for  three  more 
years  in  order  to  obtain  his  Master's  Degree.  This  he 
accomplished  in  1747,  teaching  meanwhile  in  the  schools 
near  by.  The  subject  that  he  took  for  his  thesis  strongly 
reflects  the  spirit  of  the  time,  and  shows  that  his  mind 

1  Harvard,  MSS.  Records,  vol.  i.  pp.  171,  191. 
a  Ibid.,  vol.  i.  p.  178. 


EARLY  LIFE.  7 

was  turning  to  the  discussion  of  theological  questions. 
Like  most  of  the  subjects  selected  by  the  students  for 
their  Master's  Degree,  it  was  of  a  purely  speculative 
character.  The  men  seemed  to  get  as  far  away  from 
anything  scientific  or  normal  as  was  possible.  Josiah 
Quincy  had  discoursed  learnedly  in  the  negative  the 
question  that  "  When  Balaam's  ass  spoke,  was  there 
any  change  in  its  organs  ?  "  Another  youth  inquired 
whether  a  shadow  moves,  while  another  enterprising 
investigator  determined  to  learn  if  Samson  was  guilty 
of  suicide.  Bass  was  moved  to  ask,  "  Will  the  blessed 
in  the  future  world,  after  the  last  Judgment,  make  use 
of  articulate  speech  and  will  that  be  Hebrew? "  ^  His 
decision  in  the  affirmative,  that  the  blessed  will  speak 
Hebrew  in  the  communion  of  the  saints,  would  have 
delighted  the  soul  of  Cotton  Mather,  who  argued  that 
the  Hebrew  points  were  of  divine  origin,  and  would 
have  given  joy  to  poor  old  Michael  Wigglesworth,  who 
taught  in  the  college  in  1653,  and  made  his  lament 
that  the  pupils  did  not  care  for  Hebrew,  in  the  follow- 
ing pathetic  words :  — 

"  Aug  29  :  My  pupills  all  came  to  me  y^  day  to  desire 
yy  might  ceas  learning  Hebrew :  I  w^^'stood  it  w***  all  ye 
reaso  I  could,  yet  all  will  not  satisfy  y"  thus  am  I  re- 
quited for  my  love ;  &  thus  little  fruit  of  all  my  prayers 
&  tears  for  y'  good."  ^ 

It  is  difficult  to  say  how  much  this  decision  of  young 
Bass  concerning  the  importance  of  Hebrew  influenced 
him  to  become  a  preacher,  but  after  receiving  his  degree, 

*  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings,  vol.  xviii.  p.  150. 
3  Jbid.,  vol.  xviii.  p.  122. 


8  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

this  was  his  determination.  Not  wishing  to  sever  his 
connection  with  the  college,  he  continued  to  Hve  in 
Cambridge,  studying  and  preparing  himself  for  his 
future  work.  His  first  idea  was  to  become  a  Con- 
gregational minister;  indeed,  he  received  a  license  to 
preach,  and  frequently  supplied  vacant  pulpits  in  the 
neighborhood.  It  is  known  that  he  preached  in  Box- 
ford,  when  the  Rev.  John  Rogers  of  that  place  was 
having  such  difficulty  with  his  parish  that  the  pastor's 
services  were  not  acceptable.  The  disagreement  arose 
because  of  the  building  of  a  new  church  and  the  desire 
of  the  people  to  have  a  new  minister.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Rogers  was  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  refused  to  give 
up  the  title  to  the  parsonage  and  land  until  "  the  par- 
ish paid  the  balance  of  his  salary,  and  the  parish  was 
contrary  the  other  way."  What  the  parish  clerk  calls 
"  our  long  perplexed  and  distressed  circumstances " 
continued  for  some  time,  and  "  the  parish  hired  mis- 
cellaneous ministers  to  preach  for  a  few  Sundays 
only,  though  some  of  them  continued  here  a  number 
of  months.  Prominent  among  them  were  Rev.  Jacob 
Bacon,  Rev.  Aaron  Putnam  .  .  .  Rev.  Moses  Hale  of 
Byfield  .  .  .  Rev.  Mr.  Bass."  ^  It  is  said  that  Bass 
was  called  to  be  permanent  minister  in  Boxford,  but 
this  he  declined.  This  refusal  is  an  indication  that  he 
was  beginning  to  change  his  views  on  the  subject  of 
the  church  which  he  intended  to  serve,  for,  when  preach- 
ing in  Maiden,  he  received  overtures  from  the  Wardens 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport,  —  the  offer  which 
he  finally  accepted. 

^  Sidney  Perley,  History  of  Boxford,  p.  190. 


EARLY  LIFE.  9 

It  is  difficult  at  this  late  date  to  assign  reasons  for  his 
change  from  the  Puritanism  of  his  fathers  to  the  Church 
of  England,  which  had  unceremoniously  intruded  itself 
into  the  colony.  No  hope  of  preferment  could  have 
attracted  him,  for  the  church  was  very  weak  in  the 
places  where  it  had  become  established.  Its  ministers 
in  the  colony  were  almost  all,  with  the  exception  of 
those  at  King's  Chapel,  Boston,  missionaries  of  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts.  Such  a  change  made  necessary  a  dangerous  and 
expensive  journey  to  London  for  ordination,  there  being 
no  bishop  in  America ;  and  his  career  was  sure  to  be 
beset  after  his  return  by  prejudice  and  uncalled-for 
attacks.  His  change  must,  therefore,  have  been  due  to 
conscientious  convictions,  to  some  realization  of  the 
true  meaning  of  the  English  Church,  and  to  a  moral 
bravery  that  was  in  every  way  admirable. 

There  are,  however,  some  side  lights  which  may  be 
shed  on  the  matter.  Defections  from  Puritanism  to 
the  English  Church  had  by  no  means  been  unknown ; 
and  illustrious  examples  had  occurred  in  the  American 
colleges.  Timothy  Cutler,  President  of  Yale  College, 
and  his  friends,  Mr.  Daniel  Browne  and  Rev.  Samuel 
Johnson,  the  pastor  at  Westhaven,  Conn.,  had  aston- 
ished New  England  by  their  apostasy  from  Congrega- 
tionalism. Concerning  it  Samuel  Sewall,  the  judge, 
who  always  kept  his  diary  and  letter-book,  wrote  to 
Governor  Saltonstall  in  1722  that  "  the  noise  of  Yale 
College  came  to  us  gradually  ;  at  first  we  heard  some  un- 
certain RumbHngs ;  at  last  the  plain  and  loud  Thunder 
Claps  astonished  us.     It  quickly  brought  to  my  mind 


10  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Rev.  xvi.  15.^  Methinks  he  could  not  easily  have  lit 
upon  a  Subject  so  indefensible  as  that  of  English  Epis- 
copacy which  seems  to  be  absolutely  dvOpcdTtlvrj  xriaic,? 
I  am  fully  aware  that  Episcopacy  is  that  upon  which  the 
Fifth  Vial  is  poured  out  &  he  will  have  hard  work  that 
shall  endeavor  to  controll  that  Angel.  The  Bishops 
drove  the  renowned  Planters  out  of  England,  I  hope 
God  will  not  suffer  the  Bishops  to  drive  their  children 
out  of  New  England."  ^ 

Thoutrh  Cutler  and  his  friends  knew  that  such  criti- 
cisms  would  be  made  against  them,  they  had  arguments 
to  fortify  themselves,  for  they  had  read  the  books  sent 
over  to  Yale  by  the  Venerable  Society,  —  a  collection 
that  included  Barrows,  Lowtli,  Sharp,  Scott,  Whitby, 
and  Sherlock.*  By  reading  similar  books,  we  may  be 
sure,  Bass  came  to  change  his  views.  This  is  not  a 
mere  supposition,  for  it  happened  during  his  college 
course  that  Bishop  Berkeley,  who,  when  Dean,  had 
made  his  visit  to  America,  hoping  to  aid  the  church, 
and  remembering  the  needs  of  the  colleges,  had  made  a 
donation  of  books  to  the  library  of  Harvard  College. 
In  1747,  the  Bishop  of  Cloyne  wrote  a  significant  letter 
to  Dr.  Bearcroft,  secretary  of  the  society,  in  which  he 
said,  "  If  the  Society  thinks  fit  I  believe  fifty  pound  of 
it  [of  two  hundred  pounds  he  was  contributing]  might 
be  usefully  employed  in  purchasing  the  most  approved 
writings  of  the  divines  of  the  Church  of  England,  to 

'  "  Behold   I   come   as  a  thief.     Blessed    is  he   that  watcheth,   and 
keepeth  his  garments,  lest  he  walk  naked,  and  they  see  his  shame." 
2  A  human  creation. 

^  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings,  vol.  xii.  p.  378. 
*  Hawkins,  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  175. 


EARLY  LIFE.  11 

which  I  would  have  added  the  Earl  of  Clarendon's  His- 
tory of  the  Civil  Wars,  and  the  whole  sent  as  a  bene- 
faction to  Harvard  College,  at  Cambridge,  near  Boston, 
New  England,  as  a  proper  means  to  inform  their  judg- 
ment and  dispose  them  to  think  better  of  our  church."  ^ 
Appended  to  another  letter,  the  bishop  gives  the  titles  of 
the  books  to  be  sent,  which  included  :  "  Hooker,  Chil- 
lingsworth,  the  Sermons  of  Barrows,  Tillotson,  Sharp 
and  Clarke,  Scott's  Christian  Life,  Pearson  on  the  Creed, 
Burnett  on  the  Thirty-nine  Articles,  Burnet's  History 
of  the  Reformation,  Abp.  Spotwood's  History  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland,  Clarendon's  History,  Prideaux's 
Connections,  Cave's  Historia  Literaria  Ecclesiae,  Ham- 
mond's Annotations,  Pole's  Synopsis  Critic,  the  Patres 
Apostolici  published  by  Le  Clerc."  "  That  these  books 
were  sent  appears  from  the  list  of  the  volumes  destroyed 
by  the  fire,  January  24,  1764,  that  consumed  the  Har- 
vard Library :  "  Tracts  upon  all  the  branches  of  polemi- 
cal divinity  :  —  The  donation  of  the  Venerable  Society 
for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  ^  When 
it  is  recalled  that  Bass  resided  at  the  college  as  a  stu- 
dent for  over  ten  years,  it  is  not  difficult  to  imagine 
that  this  literature  guided  his  thought,  and  prepared 
him  for  the  radical  change  he  was  about  to  make. 

The  coming  of  Whitefield,  and  the  consequent  dis- 
turbances in  the  New  England  churches,  was  the  occa- 
sion for  many  to  leave  the  old  Congregational  way  and 
seek  a  refuge  in  the  English  Church.     The  effect  of 

*  Hawkins,  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  173. 

«  Ihid.,  p.  174. 

'  Quincy's  History  of  Harvard  University,  vol.  ii.  p.  481. 


12  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

"  the  great  awakening  "  lasted  for  many  years ;  and  the 
people  were  kept  awake  by  the  powerful  preaching  of 
Whitefield  and  his  followers.  Granting  that  good 
resulted  from  this  preaching  in  its  permanent  effect, 
yet  one  cannot  be  sure  of  the  value  of  the  methods 
which  produced  such  frenzy  "  that  children  from  8 
years  old  to  12  or  13  assembled  in  bodies  to  vent  the 
imaginary  profusions  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  disorderly 
praying  and  preaching ;  "  "  nay,"  writes  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brockwell  from  Salem,  "  the  very  Servants  and  Slaves 
pretend  to  extraordinary  insj^iration,  and  under  the  veil 
thereof  cherish  their  idle  dispositions,  and  in  lieu  of 
dutifully  minding  their  respective  businesses,  run  ram- 
bling about  to  utter  their  enthusiastic  nonsense."  ^ 
When  the  excitement  caused  by  Whitefield's  methods 
was  increased  by  a  natural  phenomenon  Hke  an  earth- 
quake, the  violence  of  the  converts  was  unbounded ; 
they  kissed  crosses  that  they  had  made  in  the  dust,  and 
then  licked  up  the  dust  in  token  of  humility,  and  as 
"  a  badge  of  their  esteem  for  the  Holy  Trinity,"  drank 
a  health  to  it  in  cold  water.^  In  consequence  of  these 
disorders,  the  Rev.  Timothy  Cutler  wrote  the  secretary 
of  the  Venerable  Society  that  many  dissenters  attended 
Christ  Church  in  Boston,  "who  generally  think  the 
better  of  our  church  under  Mr.  "Whitefield's  Invectives 
against  it,  and  many  of  them  take  it  as  a  Refuge  from 
those  corrupt  principles  and  those  disorders  he  has 
spread  among  them."  ^  The  churchwardens  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Newburyport,  add   their  testimony  to 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  357. 
2  Ibid.,  p.  383.  3  7jj-^.^  p.  404. 


EARLY  LIFE.  13 

the  increase  of  the  church  from  the  appearance  of  "  the 
enthusiasm :  "  "  The  present  Distraction  amongst  the 
Dissenters  occasioned  by  Whitefield  and  his  followers 
Induces  great  numbers  of  the  Discreetest  amongst  them 
to  Declare  for  the  Church."  ^ 

Remembering  Bass's  well-known  dislike  of  practices 
dictated  by  the  emotions,  and  his  student  life  among 
the  books  in  the  university,  we  are  able  to  trace  some  of 
the  steps  that  led  him  to  declare  for  the  church.  His 
final  decision  was  made  when  St.  Paul's  Church,  New- 
buryport,  asked  him  to  become  its  assistant  minister. 
This  assistance  was  not  needed  by  the  rector,  Rev. 
Matthias  Plant,  because  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
parish,  —  one  man  could  have  attended  to  the  work : 
but  Mr.  Plant  was  getting  old ;  and,  if  he  should  be 
disabled  or  die,  it  was  important  to  have  a  clergyman 
ready  to  take  his  place.  Such  contingencies  had  to  be 
thought  of  years  ahead,  for  there  were  no  ministers 
without  parishes  ready  to  be  called  in  those  days ;  and, 
if  there  was  no  one  especially  prepared,  the  parish  might 
be  vacant  for  a  long  period.  The  need  of  an  assistant 
minister  in  this  formative  stage  of  the  church's  life  was 
clearly  set  forth  to  the  Bishop  of  London  by  the  war- 
dens of  King's  Chapel  when  they  sent  for  an  "  assistant 
to  Mr.  Samuell  Miles ;  "  "  for  should  any  sickness  or 
distemper  happen  to  him  we  should  run  adventure  of 
being  dispersed,  which  would  overthrow  in  an  instant 
what  we  have  been  this  ten  years  endeavoring,  —  the 
firm  establishment  of  a  Church  of  England  congrega- 
tion in  this  place."  ^ 

1  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  379. 

2  Foote's  Annals  of  King's  Chapel,  vol.  i.  p.  132. 


14  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

The  parish  conditions  in  Newburyport  were  some- 
what compHcated  by  the  erection  of  a  new  church 
building.  The  old  Queen  Anne's  Chapel,  built  in 
1711,  had  served  its  purpose  as  a  house  of  worship  for 
many  years,  but  it  was  situated  on  "  the  Plains,"  some 
distance  from  the  new  centre  of  the  town-life  by  the 
"  Water-side."  The  people  by  the  "  Water-side  "  had 
built  a  church  called  St.  Paul's  ;  and  this  new  edifice 
was  the  cause  of  a  long  dispute  between  the  rector  of 
Queen  Anne's  Chapel  and  the  wardens  of  St.  Paul's,  — 
the  latter  preferring  that  the  new  assistant  be  rector, 
with  full  authority,  of  the  new  and  stronger  parish. 
Mr.  Plant  objected  to  the  plan  proposed  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  yielded  to  their  desire 
for  a  new  minister  only  on  the  condition  that  he  him- 
self be  inducted  into  the  office  of  rector,  the  newcomer 
being  his  assistant.  When  Mr.  Plant  won  the  day,  and 
was  legally  inducted  as  minister  of  the  new  parish,  he 
expressed  his  willingness  to  relinquish  .£20  of  his  salary 
to  the  assistant.  The  choice  fell  upon  young  Bass,  who 
had  acquired  a  reputation  as  a  preacher,  and  whose 
sentiments  toward  the  Church  of  England  were  known. 
Another  reason  for  his  selection  may  be  found  in  his 
gentlemanly  bearing,  which  was  amusingly  described  by 
Mr.  Atkins,  one  of  the  wardens,  who  reported,  after 
due  inspection  of  the  young  man  :  "  Well,  gentlemen, 
he  pares  an  apple  and  lights  a  pipe  more  like  a  gentle- 
man than  any  of  the  other  candidates  you  have  brought 
to  me."  The  followino^  letter  from  Mr.  Plant  to  Dr. 
Bearcroft,  secretary  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  explains  the  whole 
situation :  — 


EARLY   LIFE.  15 

ME.   PLANT   TO    DK.    BEARCROFT. 

Dec.  23,  1751. 

Rev.  Doctor,  —  In  a  letter  I  received  from  you 
bearing  date  October  21^*  1746,  sent  by  Mr.  M-^Gil- 
christ  and  received  by  me  March  25,  174:7,  I  am  there 
recommended  upon  my  being  the  chief  minister  of 
the  whole  Parish  of  Newbury,  to  make  good  my  pro- 
mise of  paying  annually  .£20.  sterling  to  some  young 
candidate  when  admitted  mto  Holy  Orders  to  be  my 
assistant  at  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Newbury.  The  pro- 
prietors of  St.  Paul's  Church  having  given  me  induction 
into  the  said  church  June  24th,  I,  to  comply  with  the 
Society's  directions,  have  made  choice  of  Mr.  Edward 
Bass,  the  bearer  hereof,  to  assist  me  in  the  said  office, 
■when  admitted  into  orders ;  promising  to  pay  said  Mr. 
Bass  annually  £20.  sterling,  according  to  the  true  pur- 
port and  meaning  of  the  Society's  directions  in  that 
affair ;  humbly  praying  the  Society  to  recommend  Mr. 
Bass  to  my  lord  bishop  to  be  admitted  into  orders 
that  he  may  as  soon  as  possible  return  to  my  assistance, 
who  now  labor  under  a  weak  disposition.  Mr.  B.  came 
to  me  so  well  recommended  that  I  verily  believe  he  will 
be  of  service  in  the  church,  and  especially  in  Newbury, 
the  place  designed  for  his  residence. 

This  indorsement  Bass  took  with  him  to  London, 
whither  he  went  in  April,  1752,  to  be  ordained.  Before 
proceeding  on  his  journey,  he  was  examined  by  certain 
of  the  clergy,  who  passed  him,  but  opposed  the  idea 
of  his  preaching  in  Newbury  while  waiting  to  take 
passage  to  England.  This  he  did  with  the  consent  of 
Mr.  Plant,  and  earned  the  title  of  "  the  forward  young 


16  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

man,"  bestowed  upon  him  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brockwell 
in  this  interesting  letter :  — 

MK.    BROCKWELL   TO   THE   BISHOP   OF   LONDON. 

Boston,  N.  Engl",  Jan^  21,  1752. 

My  Lord,  —  These  are  to  acquaint  your  Lordship 
that  the  Church  at  Newbury  has  chosen  M'.  Bass,  late 
a  dissenting  teacher,  but  now  a  proselyte  to  the  Church, 
to  be  assistant  to  the  Rev"^.  M'.  Plant,  Missionary  to  the 
Said  Church  ;  who,  thro'  age  &  infirmity,  is  rendered 
almost  incapable  of  his  Ministry.  The  Gentleman  has 
a  general  good  character  &  full  testimonials,  which  he 
will  produce  to  your  Lordship  from  their  Seminary  of 
Schism.  When  he  appeared  before  the  Clergy  here  in 
order  to  his  examination  something  was  intimated  as  to 
the  readinof  of  the  service  &  a  sermon  to  them  in  their 
Church,  during  the  interval  he  should  be  among  them, 
before  he  could  proceed  on  his  intended  voyage.  D^ 
Cutler  &  I  strenuously  opposed  &  utterly  forbad  any 
such  advances ;  but,  however,  the  forward  young  man 
did  proceed,  and  M^  Plant,  thro'  age  &  infirmity,  was 
weak  enough  to  countenance  the  irregularity,  by  the 
loan  of  his  Gown,  &c.  How  much  such  proceeding 
may  conduce  to  the  contempt  of  religion  &  the  Min- 
istry, I  humbly  submit  to  your  Lordship.  .  .  . 
My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's 
Most  Dutiful, 

Most  obedient  Servant, 

Cha^  Brockwell.* 

To  Edmund,  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

*  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  441. 


EARLY  LIFE.  17 

Equipped  for  his  voyage,  Bass  took  with  him  a 
formal  recommendation  from  the  President  and  Profess- 
ors of  Harvard  College,  and  a  letter  from  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Miller,  minister  at  Braintree.  Both  letters  contain 
so  much  biographical  material  that  they  are  given  in 
fuU:  — 

Harvard  College  in  Cambridge, 
Nov.  27, 1751. 

This  may  certify  whom  it  may  Concern,  That  M"". 
Edw**.  Bass  the  Bearer  of  this  who  hath  resided  w***  us 
for  the  four  last  years  viz.  Since  he  received  here  his 
Degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  is  well  known  to  us  &  hav- 
ing applyed  to  us  for  a  Testimony  respecting  his  moral 
character,  We  can  ChearfuUy  declare,  that  He  hath 
behaved  himself  during  his  abode  w**"  us  uprightly  & 
blamelessly  as  to  his  Life  and  Conversation ;  in  Witness 
whereof  we  Sign  our  names. 

Edw.  Holyoke. 

Henry  Flynt. 

Belcher  Hancock. 

Joseph  Mayhew. 

Tho^.  Marsh. 

mr.  miller  to  the  secretary. 

Braintree  in  N.  Engl",  Feb.  1, 1752. 
Rev"  Sir,  —  The  Bearer,  M'.  Bass,  is  a  young  gentle- 
man bred  at  Harvard  College  and  has  preached  for 
some  time  among  the  dissenters  to  good  acceptance, 
but  now  upon  mature  consideration,  thinks  it  his  duty 
to  conform  to  the  Church  of  England,  &  comes  over 
for  Holy  orders  and  to  be  appointed  to  the  new  Church 


18  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

in  Newbury  ;  both  M"".  Plant  and  the  people  are  highly 
pleased  with  him,  and,  indeed,  he  is  universally  well 
spoken  of  as  a  man  of  Piety  and  sense,  a  good  Preacher 
and  of  an  agreeable  temper.  He  brings  full  testi- 
monials from  the  College,  where  he  has  liv'd,  I  think, 
about  10  years,  which  are  confirmed  by  the  Clergy  of 
Boston,  &c.  A  person  so  qualified  and  recommended 
can  never  want  your  favor  and  assistance.  There  is 
one  thing  in  particular  wherein  he  desires  your  assist- 
ance, viz.,  that  you  would  do  what  you  can  to  dispatch 
his  business  speedily,  because  he  has  never  had  the 
smallpox,  which  he  is  fearful  of,  it  having  proved  fatal 
to  many  New  EngP*^  men  in  London,  &  besides,  M^ 
Plant's  ill  state  of  health  is  another  reason  for  his 
returning  as  soon  as  may  be. 

M^  Bass  is  a  distant  relation  of  mine,  and  I  shall 
esteem  the  favors  shewn  as  an  addition  to  those  already 
conferred  on. 

Dear  S",  Your  affectionate  B",  &c., 

F.  Miller.* 

In  addition  to  the  great  expense  attending  a  journey 
to  England  for  ordination,  —  for  it  cost  about  £100,  — 
the  fear  of  smallpox,  above  referred  to,  was  not  an 
imaginary  one.  Young  Browne,  who  accompanied  Dr. 
Cutler,  was  seized  with  the  disease  a  week  after  his 
ordination,  and  died  under  sad  circumstances  in  Eng- 
land. The  smallpox  and  shipwreck  dealt  severely  with 
those  who  went  to  the  mother  country  to  receive  their 
ordination.     A  writer  in  the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine  " 

1  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  442. 


EARLY  LIFE.  19 

refers  to  these  disasters  by  saying  truly  that  "  out  of 
52  or  53  who  have  come  hither  for  holy  orders,  42 
only  have  returned  safe.  There  never  was  a  perse- 
cution on  earth  that  destroyed  a  fifth  part  of  the 
clergy."  ^ 

Bass,  arriving  safely  in  England,  presented  his  letters 
to  the  Society.  They  were  regarded  as  satisfactory ; 
and  the  favorable  action  in  his  case  was  thus  recorded 
in  the  Journal  of  the  Society,  an  extract  from  which 
reads : — 

"  17  April  1752.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev<*.  D'. 
Miller,  Missionary  at  Braintree  in  New  England,  in 
Favour  of  M'.  Bass,  Dated  Febry  1.  1752,  setting  Forth, 
that  M^  Bass  had  been  Bred  at  Harvard  College,  and 
had  Preach'd  for  some  Time  among  the  Dissenters  with 
good  Acceptance,  but  upon  mature  Consideration  had 
thought  it  his  Duty  to  join  himself  to  the  Church  of 
England ;  and  M^  Plant  and  the  Proprietors  of  St. 
Pauls  Church  in  Newbury  having  heard  him  universally 
well  spoken  of,  as  a  Man  of  Sense,  and  Piety,  a  good 
Preacher,  and  of  an  agreeable  Temper,  had  agreed  to 
invite  him  to  be  Assistant  to  M^  Plant,  in  the  Care  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  if  he  could  obtain  Holy  Orders,  for 
which  D'.  Miller  recommends  him  to  the  Favour  of  the 
Society. 

"  Whereupon  it  was  Agreed  as  the  Opinion  of  the 
Committee  to  recommend  M^  Bass  to  the  Lord  Bishop 
of  London  for  Holy  Orders,  and  also  to  recommend 
him  to  the  Society,  for  a  Gratuity  of  <£10.  towards  the 
Expences  of  his  Voyage. 

'  Gentleman's  Magazine,  vol.  xxxix.  p.  262. 


20  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

"  Resolved  to  Agree  with  the  Committee."  ^ 
The  Bishop  of  London  received  Bass  with  great 
kindness,  examined  him,  and,  requesting  him  to  trans- 
late the  Thirty-nine  Articles  into  Latin,  proceeded  to 
ordain  him  in  the  little  chapel  in  Fulham  Palace.  If 
there  is  one  place  more  than  another  in  England  that 
should  interest  American  churchmen,  it  is  the  Bishop's 
residence  at  Fulham,  for  here  the  young  clergy  of 
the  colonial  church  were  received  with  hospitality,  and 
here  they  took  upon  themselves  their  ordination  vows. 
The  first  genuine  glimpse  of  EngHsh  life  they  got  in 
the  well-kept  grounds  and  low-lying  buildings  of  Ful- 
ham. Even  the  shrubbery  and  trees  had  a  homelike 
look,  for  Bishop  Compton  had  planted  in  the  gardens 
trees  from  North  America,  as  a  token  of  interest,  per- 
haps, in  his  remote  diocese  across  the  seas.  There 
were  here  growing  in  the  Enghsh  soil  "  the  ash-leaved 
maple  and  the  scarlet-flowered  maple,  the  Virginia  red- 
cedar,  the  black  walnut,  the  white  oak  and  the  ever- 
green oak,  the  triple  thorn  acacia."  ^  In  the  midst  of 
these  delightful  surroundings,  Edward  Bass  was  ordained 
Deacon  on  Sunday,  May  17,  1752,  by  Bishop  Sherlock, 
and  Priest  on  May  24,  in  the  same  year.  His  declara- 
tion of  conformity  and  the  bishop's  license,  together 
with  the  other  ordination  papers,  have  been  preserved. 
They  are  of  value  as  showing  the  methods  pursued  by 
the  English  Church  in  the  ordination  of  young  men 
from  the  colonies. 

^  Journal,  vol.  xii.  pp.  132, 133. 

^  E.  Venables,  Episcopal  Palaces  of  England^  p.  66. 


i 


EARLY  LIFE.  21 

OATH    OF    CONFORMITY. 

I  do  declare  that  I  will  Conform  to  the  Liturgy  of 
the  Church  of  England  as  it  is  now  by  Law  Established. 

Edward  Bass. 

This  Declaration  was  made  and  subscribed  before  us 
by  the  said  Edward  Bass,  Clerk  —  to  be  Licensed  to 
perform  the  ministerial  office  in  the  Province  of  New 
England  in  America  —  this  24*^  day  of  May,  1752,  and 
in  the  fourth  year  of  our  Translation 

Tho.  London. 

[Seal] 

ordination  to  the  priesthood. 
Thomas  —  by  divine  permission  Bishop  of  London  to 

all  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come  or  whom  they 

may  in  any  wise  concern. 

Know  ye  that  at  an  ordination  holden  by  us  with  the 
Aid  and  Assistance  of  Almighty  God  on  Sunday  the 
twenty  fourth  Day  of  May  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  two  —  in  the  Chapel 
within  our  Palace  of  Fulham  —  we  did  admit  and  pro- 
mote our  beloved  in  Christ  Edward  Bass  to  the  Holy 
Order  of  a  Priest  according  to  the  Rites  and  Ceremonies 
of  the  Church  of  England  in  that  behalf  published  and 
provided  He  having  been  well  recommended  to  us  for 
his  Good  Life  and  virtuous  Attainments  and  proficiency 
in  Learning  with  a  sufficient  Title  and  having  been 
also  first  examined  and  approved  by  our  Examiner  In 
Testimony  Whereof  We  have  caused  our  Episcopal  Seal 
to  be  hereto  af&xed. 


22  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Dated  the  day  and  year  above  written  and  in  the 
fourth  year  of  our  Translation 

Tho.  London. 

[Seal] 

bishop's  license. 

Thomas  by  Divine  Permission  Bishop  of  London  To 
our  beloved  in  Christ  Edward  Bass,  Clerk  —  Greet- 
ing. 

We  do  by  these  Presents  Give  and  Grant  to  you  in 
whose  Fidelity,  Morals,  Learning,  Sound  Doctrine  & 
Diligence,  We  do  fully  confide  our  Licence  &  Authority, 
to  continue  only  during  our  pleasure  to  Perform  the 
Of&ce  of  a  Priest  in  the  Province  of  New  England  in 
America  in  Reading  the  Common  Prayers  &  Performing 
other  Ecclesiastical  Duties,  belonging  to  the  said  office 
according  to  the  Form  prescribed  in  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  made  &  published  by  Authority  of  Parlia- 
ment &  the  Canons  &  Constitutions  in  that  behalf, 
lawfully  established  &  promulgated  and  not  otherwise, 
or  in  any  Other  manner  (you  having  first  before  Us 
subscribed  the  Articles  &  taken  the  Oaths  which  in 
this  Case  are  Required  by  Law  to  be  Subscribed  and 
taken) 

In  Witness  whereof  We  have  caused  our  Seal  which 
We  use  in  this  case  to  be  hereto  affixed.  Dated  the 
Twenty  fourth  day  of  May  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord 
1752  and  in  the  fourth  Year  of  our  Translation 

Tho  London. 

[Seal] 


1 


EARLY  LIFE.  23 

The  young  clergyman  having  been  successful  in  the 
object  of  his  visit,  and  being  appointed  missionary 
by  the  Venerable  Society,  waited  upon  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury  to  receive  "  Paternal  Benediction  and 
Instructions."  The  instructions  were  those  usually 
given  to  the  missionaries  of  the  society,  and  they 
reveal  such  a  true  spirit  and  aim  in  the  spread  of  the 
church  that  a  young  man  at  this  sacred  period  of  his 
life  must  have  been  deeply  impressed  by  them.  Their 
dignity  and  Christian  feehng  are  sufficient  answer  to 
those  in  New  England  who  afterwards  attacked  the 
society  with  such  persistence.  Bass,  on  his  way  back 
to  America,  had  with  him  to  read  these  strong  words 
of  appeal :  — 

"  That  they  always  keep  in  view  the  great  Design 
of  their  Undertaking,  viz.  To  promote  the  Glory  of 
Almighty  God,  and  the  Salvation  of  men,  by  propa- 
gating the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour. 

"  That  they  often  consider  the  Qualifications  requisite 
for  those  who  would  effectually  promote  this  Design, 
viz.,  —  a  sound  knowledge  of  and  hearty  belief  of  the 
Christian  religion ;  an  Apostolic  zeal,  tempered  with 
Prudence,  Humility,  Meekness,  and  Patience ;  a  fervent 
charity  towards  the  souls  of  men ;  and  finally,  that 
Temperance,  Fortitude,  and  Constancy,  which  become 
good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"  That  in  order  to  the  obtaining  and  preserving  the 
said  Qualifications,  they  do  very  frequently  in  their 
Retirements  offer  up  fervent  prayers  to  Almighty  God 
for  his  Direction  and  Assistance ;  converse  much  with 
the  Holy  Scriptures ;  seriously  reflect  upon  their  Ordi- 


24  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

nation  Vows ;  and  consider  the  account  which  they  are 
to  render  to  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  our 
Souls  at  the  Last  Day. 

"  That  avoiding  all  names  of  distinction,  they  en- 
deavor to  preserve  a  Christian  agreement  and  Union 
one  with  another ;  as  a  Body  of  Brethren  of  one  and 
the  same  Church  united  under  the  superior  Episcopal 
order,  and  all  engaged  in  the  same  great  Design  of 
Propagating  the  Gospel."  ^ 

Such  were  the  motives  that  prompted  and  encour- 
aged the  young  servant  of  God  as  he  entered  upon  his 
chosen  work  in  the  New  World. 

^  Hawkins,  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  424. 


CHAPTER  II. 

ORIGIN    OF   THE    CHURCH    IN    NEWBURYPORT. 

All  attempts  to  found  a  parish  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  the  Puritan  Commonwealth  failed  until  the 
coming  of  Governor  Andros,  who  brought  with  him 
on  board  the  Rose  the  Rev.  Robert  Ratcliffe,  A.  M. 
This  clergyman  of  the  EngHsh  Church  succeeded,  after 
much  opposition,  in  holding  the  services  of  his  church, 
first  in  the  Town  Hall  of  Boston,  then,  to  the  conster- 
nation of  its  members,  in  the  Old  South  Meeting-House, 
and  lastly  in  his  own  church  building,  Kmg's  Chapel, 
which  thus  became  the  first  organized  parish  of  the 
Anglican  Church  on  the  soil  of  Massachusetts. 

Though  the  Prayer  Book  had  been  used  as  early  as 
1607  by  Richard  Seymour  in  the  little  chapel  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Sagadahoc,  and  the  Rev.  William  Morrell 
had  visited  the  Colony  at  Plymouth  in  1623,  and  the 
Rev.  William  Blaxton  was  the  first  resident  of  Boston, 
yet  none  of  these  men  left  any  permanent  record  of 
their  visits  by  the  establishment  of  a  mission.  They 
found  the  conditions  unpropitious.  Morrell  had  to  con- 
tent himself  by  WTiting  a  poem  in  Latin,  and  Blaxton 
was  treated  with  some  contempt  because  of  his  "  Ca- 
nonicall  Coate."  The  churchmen  who  came  to  New 
England  and  claimed  any  rights  were  treated  like  the 
Brown  brothers,  who  very  soon  after  landing  in  Salem 


26  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

were  forthwith  banished,  as  the  simple  account  reads : 
"  The  two  brothers  [Samuel  Brown  and  his  brother] 
gathered  a  company  together,  in  a  place  distinct  from 
the  public  assembly,  and  there,  sundry  times,  the 
book  of  common  prayer  was  read  unto  S'uch  as  resorted 
thither.  The  governour,  Mr.  Endicot,  taking  notice  of 
the  disturbance  that  began  to  grow  amongst  the  people 
by  this  means,  he  convented  the  two  brothers  before 
him.  .  .  .  The  governour  told  them  that  New  England 
was  no  place  for  such  as  they ;  and  therefore  he  sent 
them  both  back  to  England,  at  the  return  of  the  ships 
the  same  year ;  and  though  they  breathed  out  threaten- 
ings  both  against  the  governour  and  ministers  there,  yet 
the  Lord  so  disposed  of  all,  that  there  was  no  further 
inconvenience  followed  upon  it."  ^  The  "  no  further 
inconvenience  "  is  very  well  understood  by  a  reference 
to  one  of  the  colonial  laws  which  proved  very  useful 
and  was  generally  effective  in  such  cases  ;  this  provided 
for  any  return  on  the  part  of  the  person  banished  in 
the  following  phraseology  :  "  And  if  after  this,  he  or 
she  shall  return  again ;  then  to  be  proceeded  against  as 
Incorrisfible  Rogues  and  Enemies  to  the  Common 
Peace,  and  shall  be  immediately  apprehended,  and  Com- 
mitted to  the  Common  Goal  of  the  Country,  .  ,  .  and 
proceeded  against  .  .  .  for  their  punishment  on  pain 
of  death."  2 

This  grim  statute  was  seconded  by  another  that 
sought  to  keep  out  of  the  commonwealth  in  the  first 
instance  all  undesirable  persons,  and  was  thus  quaintly 

1  Morton's  New  England's  Memorial,  pp.  117,  148. 
^  Colonial  Laws,  p.  63. 


i 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.       27 

put :  "  Noe  pson  being  a  member  of  any  churche  which 
shall  hereafter  be  gathered  without  the  approbagon  of 
the  magistrates,  &  the  greater  pte  of  the  said  churches, 
shalbe  admitted  to  the  fit'reedome  of  this  Coilion- 
wealth."  ^ 

Though  many  estimable  traits  of  character  have  been 
contributed  to  the  Hfe  of  America  by  the  Puritans,  it 
is  certain  that  tolerance  was  not  one  of  them.  Reli- 
gious liberty  came  in  due  time,  but  it  was  born  under 
other  skies  than  those  of  New  England,  and  adopted 
not  without  resistance  on  the  part  of  those  who  looked 
upon  uniformity  as  one  of  the  essentials  of  their  faith. 
Persecution,  whether  under  Charles  I.  and  Archbishop 
Laud,  or  in  Salem  or  Boston,  was  the  logical  result  of 
a  violent  plea  for  uniformity,  and  the  consequent  idea 
that  a  novel  opinion  was  a  crime  against  the  State. 
It  is  no  excuse  for  the  Puritans  to  point  to  the  persecu- 
tions that  they  suffered  in  order  to  justify  similar  acts 
on  their  part;  such  acts  simply  show  that  they  had  not 
learned  the  value  of  true  Hberty,  and  when  they  found 
themselves  in  power,  they  resorted  to  the  same  means 
they  had  condemned.  Their  legislation  was  not  directed 
specially  against  churchmen,  but  against  all  who  dif- 
fered from  them,  the  Quakers  receiving  more  serious 
handling  than  did  any  of  the  English  Church.  The 
indictment  of  Cotton  by  Roger  Williams  cannot  easily 
be  answered,  in  which  he  expresses  his  astonishment 
"  That  [the  Spirit  of  Persecution,  Cruelty,  and  Malice] 
should  predominate  in  those  who  had  loudly  cried  out 
of  the  Tyranny  and  oppression  of  the  Bishops  in  Old 
*  The  Records  of  the  Colony  of  Mass.  Bay,  vol.  i.  p.  168. 


28  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

England  and  from  whom  they  fled;  but  when  they 
settled  in  a  place,  where  they  had  liberty  to  Govern, 
made  their  little  Finger  of  Cruelty  bigger  than  ever 
they  found  the  Loyns  of  the  Bishops." 

The  founding  of  King's  Chapel  in  Boston  was  per- 
mitted because  of  the  political  necessity  of  the  situation, 
rather  than  on  account  of  any  temperate  yielding  on 
the  part  of  its  opponents.  The  hand  of  New  England 
had  in  a  measure  been  forced.  Those  who  thought 
they  could  enjoy  the  circumscribed  life  of  an  exclu- 
sive community  found  that  they  could  not  be  shut  ofF 
in  a  corner.  The  movements  of  history  are  always 
greater  than  the  selfish  decrees  of  states;  and  the 
dream  of  an  isolated  commonwealth  was  dispelled  by 
the  influx  of  a  more  cosmopolitan  life  from  the  world 
outside. 

In  these  early  days  of  the  church  in  Massachusetts, 
next  in  importance  to  the  establishment  of  King's 
Chapel  was  the  beginning  and  the  growth  of  the  parish 
at  Newbury.^  There  were  many  questions  connected 
with  the  planting  of  this  latter  mission  that  were  of 

*  It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  mission  in  Newbury  was  second  to 
King's  Chapel  in  point  of  time  as  well  as  of  importance.  Occasional  ser- 
vices were  held  before  this  time  in  such  places  as  Braintree,  Salisbury, 
and  Marblehead,  but  no  organized  work  existed  in  any  of  them.  The 
impression  that  the  Marblehead  parish  antedates  that  of  Newbury  re- 
ceives its  foundation  from  the  letter  of  John  Talbot,  missionary,  in  which 
he  writes,  1708,  that  "I  preached  the  Gospel  at  Marble-Head,  where  the 
people  offered  to  subscribe  some  hundreds  of  pounds  to  build  a  church  ; 
but  I  have  resolved  to  build  no  more  churches  till  there  are  more  minis- 
ters to  serve  the  churches  built."  {Collection  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Hist.  Society,  vol.  i.  p.  61.)  The  letter,  however,  shows  clearly  that 
nothing  was  done  to  organize  the  parish  at  this  time. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.       29 

sufficient  significance  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
governor  and  the  General  Court,  and  had  a  direct  bear- 
ins:  on  the  treatment  of  the  other  missions  that  were 
afterwards  founded.  A  sketch  of  the  starting  of  Queen 
Anne's  Chapel  at  Newbury,  which  developed  into  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Newburyport,  is  not  only  interesting  as 
an  episode  in  Massachusetts  history,  but  is  also  appro- 
priate, since  Edward  Bass  was  minister  of  the  parish 
for  the  long  period  of  fifty-one  years. 

As  we  have  seen  before,  in  the  previous  chapter,  in 
the  case  of  Boxford,  there  was  not  always  harmony  in 
the  congregations  of  New  England.  Difficulties  arising 
from  various  causes  often  culminated  in  open  rupture 
and  the  building  of  a  new  meeting-house.  The  Epis- 
copal Church  in  Newbury  sprang  in  part  from  such 
confusion  among  the  Congregationalists. 

In  order  to  understand  the  details  of  the  matter,  it  is 
necessary  to  remember  that,  in  what  is  now  known  as 
Newburyport,  there  was  one  principal  street  running 
for  some  miles  from  the  water,  "  the  port,"  into  the 
interior  through  "  the  plains,"  to  a  more  distant  point, 
"  Pipe-stave  hill."  There  was  a  settlement  at  each  of 
these  places ;  and  as  early  as  1685  there  were  enough 
people  at  "  the  plains "  to  build  a  meeting-house  for 
their  own  use.  Later,  in  1695,  the  population  having 
increased  in  the  region  of  "  Pipe-stave  hill,"  the  town 
voted  that  this  locality  should  be  the  place  for  the  new 
meeting-house,  which  was  accordingly  built ;  and  fur- 
ther it  was  voted,  at  another  time,  "  to  take  the  seats 
and  boards  and  glass  out  of  ye  old  meeting  house  to 
be  improved  in  the  new  meeting  house  and  sett  it  up 


30  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

att  Pipe-stave  hill  to  be  improved  for  a  barn  for  the 
ministry  in  convenient  time."^  The  people  at  "the 
plains,"  however,  did  not  agree  to  the  taking  down  of 
their  meeting-house.  They  opposed  the  whole  project 
in  1706,  and  in  1710  signed  their  names  to  an  agree- 
ment "  to  obHdge  ourselves  to  each  other  to  mayntain 
the  public  ministry  at  the  old  meeting  house  in  ye  West 
precinct  in  Newbury  although  we  are  forsed  to  pay  els- 
whare  what  shall  be  lavid  upon  us."  This  agreement 
and  opposition  incensed  the  "  Pipe-stave  hill "  people, 
and  they  made  a  midnight  raid  on  the  old  building, 
tearing  it  down.  This  act  of  violence  did  not  end  the 
controversy,  for  old  Deacon  Joshua  Brown,  Abraham 
Merril,  Joseph  Bartlet,  Skipper  Lunt,  a  carpenter,  and 
others  from  "  the  plains  "  immediately  determined  to  cut 
and  haul  timber  to  replace  with  a  new  building  the  one 
so  unceremoniously  destroyed.  They  were  carrying  this 
project  into  execution  when  an  order  from  the  General 
Court,  in  answer  to  a  petition  from  the  "  Pipe-stave 
hill "  people,  commanded  them  to  cease  operations. 
They,  in  their  turn,  petitioned  the  court,  November  2, 
1711,  to  grant  them  leave  "  to  goe  on  with  their  meet- 
ing house,"  and  this  was  answered  by  a  more  peremp- 
tory order  "  that  the  building  of  the  said  house  be  not 
on  any  pretence  whatever  further  proceeded  in."  At 
this  stage  of  the  fight  certain  of  the  west  precinct  resi- 
dents, not  being  opposed  to  the  Church  of  England, 
and  encouraged  by  Mr.  John  Bridges,  "  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral of  all  her  Magesty's  Woods  on  the  Continent  of 
America,"  and  a  churchman,  determined  to  build  their 

1  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  179. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE   CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.        31 

house  of  worship  and  apply  to  the  Bishop  of  London 
for  a  minister. 

There  were  various  reasons  for  this  radical  move.  In 
the  first  place,  the  men  at  "  the  plains  "  were  wearied 
by  the  treatment  they  had  received  at  the  hands  of  the 
remonstrants ;  and,  knowing  that  both  the  precinct  and 
the  General  Court  would  prevent,  by  force  if  necessary, 
the  building  of  their  church,  they  decided  to  introduce 
a  much  larger  issue  and  claim  the  protection  of  her 
Majesty  by  forcing  their  neighbors  and  the  authorities 
to  stand  aside  while  they  exercised  their  right  of  liberty 
of  conscience.  There  was  no  inherent  reason  why  those 
who  desired  it  should  not  have  had  a  place  for  worship 
without  the  interference  on  the  part  of  the  civil  author- 
ities, but  as  Mr.  Brooks  Adams  has  clearly  shown,  "  The 
congregation,  not  the  town,  was  the  political  unit  in 
Massachusetts ; "  ^  in  other  words,  the  town  meeting 
was  a  meeting  of  the  parish,  —  since  every  voter  must 
be  a  communicant ;  so  if  the  parish  was  opposed  to  any 
religious  undertaking,  the  town  was  sure  to  enforce  its 
decrees.  Every  undesirable  movement  of  independence 
could  be  checked  by  the  levy  of  a  tax  on  the  people,  to 
be  paid  for  the  support  of  a  meeting-house  to  which 
they  did  not  care  to  belong.  In  the  provincial  days, 
the  whole  discussion  would  have  been  quickly  decided 
by  drastic  measures,  but  the  change  had  come,  having 
been  forced  upon  Massachusetts  by  conditions  that 
could  not  be  overlooked.  This  question,  agitating  the 
inhabitants  of  Newbury,  was  more  than  of  mere  local 
concern ;  it  attracted  wide  attention,  and  the  result  was 

1  Brooks  Adams,  The  Emancipation  of  Massachusetts^  p.  2. 


32  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  growth  of  rehgious 
Kberty.  The  Episcopal  Church  had  been  grudgingly 
permitted  to  live  in  Boston  when  King's  Chapel  was 
built,  but  this  success  by  no  means  insured  its  perma- 
nent hold  elsewhere.  The  planting  of  the  church  in 
Newbury  was  a  distinct  gain  in  opening  the  way  for 
greater  freedom. 

There  is  always  some  leading  spirit  in  any  successful 
enterprise.  In  this  case  the  honor  belongs  to  Mr.  John 
Bridges,  her  Majesty's  surveyor,  whose  business  carried 
him  into  different  parts  of  the  country.  He,  hearing 
of  the  trouble  at  Newbury,  wrote  letters  of  encourage- 
ment to  the  disappointed  church-members,  and  aj)peared 
among  them,  ready  to  assist  by  wise  suggestions,  actu- 
ally undertaking  grave  responsibilities.  Mr.  Bridges's 
assistance  is  described  in  a  petition  sent  to  the  Bishop 
of  London,  January  28,  1712,  signed  by  John  Bartlet, 
Joshua  Brown,  and  others  :  "  This  [the  order  from  the 
Court]  put  an  entire  stop  to  our  proceedings  till  John 
Bridges  Esq,  Surveyor  General  of  her  Majesty's  woods 
and  Land,  &c  heard  of  our  troubles  &  sent  us  several 
letters  &  encouraged  us  to  proceed,  but  he  is  now  come 
to  our  relief  &  has  put  us  in  this  way  of  Petitioning 
your  Grace  from  whom  wee  by  M"^  Bridges  are  fully 
persuaded  &  pray  a  satisfactory  and  speedy  ans'",  being 
without  any  Parson  to  preach  to  us.  We  have  made 
M"  Bridges  our  agent  &  have  given  him  the  Land  for 
our  Church  &  have  enabled  him  with  workmen  &  mate- 
rials to  finish  the  Church  .  .  .  and  to  go  on  in  that 
work  against  all  opposers  whatever,  &  as  he  has,  so  he 
will  stand  in  the  Gap  for  us."  ^ 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  86. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.       33 

Bridges  acted  as  the  agent  of  the  petitioners,  and 
signed  a  contract  with  them  "  to  finish  and  compleat " 
the  building  "for  the  performance  and  worship  of 
Almighty  God  according  to  the  established  Church 
of  Great  Britain."  ^  He  also  interested  the  clergy  of 
King's  Chapel,  Boston,  in  the  new  work,  securing  the 
services  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Harris,  a  graduate  of  Jesus 
College,  Oxford,  the  assistant  minister  to  the  rector. 
Rev.  Samuel  Miles.  So  soon  as  the  building  was  ready 
for  occupancy,  Mr.  Harris  went  to  Newbury,  and  stayed 
with  the  people  fourteen  days,  visiting  among  them,  and 
instructing  them  "  in  ye  doctrine  and  worship  of  God 
in  the  Church  of  England."  He  distributed  books  of 
Common  Prayer  and  over  a  hundred  copies  of  "  Doctor 
King's  Book  of  the  Inventions  of  men  in  the  worship 
of  God  and  Doctor  William's  defence  of  the  Common 
Prayer."  ^  On  Sundays  Mr.  Harris  preached  to  over 
three  hundred  persons. 

Made  bold  by  these  evidences  of  success,  the  leaders 
determined  to  make  public  their  adherence  to  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  to  secure  protection  from  his  Excel- 
lency, Governor  Joseph  Dudley.  Accordingly,  on  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1712,  they  sent  to  the  governor  their  humble 
petition :  — 

Whereas,  your  Excellency's  Petitioners  have  de- 
clared themselves  Members  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
of  England  as  by  law  established  and  have  raised  a 
building  of  Almighty  God  according  to  ye  manner 
of  worship  prescribed  in  the  said  Church.     We  humbly 

1  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  104. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  105. 


34  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

desire  your  Excellency's  protection  and  encouragement 
in  our  just  and  laudable  undertakings.  We  are  con- 
vinced that  the  Church  of  England  is  a  pure  orthodox 
church  and  are  resolved  to  continue  no  longer  in  that 
separation  which  has  so  unhappily  prevailed  among  the 
mistaken  and  prejudiced  Inhabitants  o£  this  Country. 
This  resolution  has  occasioned  the  ill-will  of  our  Dis- 
senting Brethren  who  lay  upon  us  more  than  ordinary 
rates  for  the  maintenance  of  their  minister  and  other 
purposes  of  that  nature,  which  act  of  theirs  is  a  very 
great  hardship  and  grievance  to  us  since  we  have 
addressed  our  Right  Reverend  Diocesan  the  Bishop  of 
London  to  send  us  a  Minister  whom  we  shall  most 
gladly  receive,  but  think  ourselves  under  no  obHgation 
to  any  other,  it  being  a  thing  unknown  in  her  Majesty's 
dominions  that  the  members  of  the  Church  of  Engfland 
should  be  forced  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the 
tolerated  dissenting  Teachers.  We  therefore  pray  your 
Excellency  that  we  may  not  be  molested  for  the  future 
upon  this  ace*,  and  beg  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves 
Your  Excellency's  most  obedient 

humble  servants^ 
John  Eyre  Tho^  Bartlett 

John  Bartlet         Tristram  Brown 
Sam''  Bartlet  Sam"*  Sawyer 

Rich"*  Williams  Joshua  Brown  Jr 
Robert  Rogers  Abraham  Merrill 
Tho^  Brown  Joshua  Brown,  Sr 

John  Bartlet         Josiah  Sawyer 
Joseph  Bayley        Nath''  Bartlett 
Will"  Huse  Joshua  Sawyer 

John  Merrill         John  Bartlet 
Joseph  Annis  Sam""  Bartlet 

Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ck.  Mass.,  p.  107. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.       35 

This  document  setting  forth  the  views  of  the  peti- 
tioners is  temperate  and  wise.  It  does  not  condemn, 
but  states  that  they  are  convinced  that  the  Episcopal 
Church  "is  a  pure  orthodox  church,"  and  on  this 
beHef  they  ask  for  hberty  to  worship  as  they  see  fit. 
In  accounting  for  this  expression  of  opinion,  it  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  many  of  the  petitioners  were 
either  EngHshmen  or  descendants  of  Englishmen,  and 
though  they  may  have  worshiped  in  New  England  in 
the  only  way  possible,  yet  they  were  not  necessarily 
violent  in  their  hatred  of  the  church  of  their  fathers. 
One  of  the  historians  of  Newburyport,  answering  the 
charge  against  them  that  they  were  "  utterly  ignorant 
of  the  church  they  declare  for,"  says  justly,  "  The  very 
troubles  which  afflicted  the  parish  were  a  means  of 
turning  their  attention  to  the  forms,  discipline,  and 
faith  of  other  churches,  and  the  supposition  that  the 
materials  of  information  were  not  to  be  found  among 
them  is  absurd.  Many  of  them  were  emigrants  or 
immediate  descendants  of  emigrants  from  England, 
and  as  persons  of  ordinary  intelligence  could  not  fail 
to  be  acquainted  with  its  faith  and  formula."  ^ 

Governor  Dudley's  answer  which  he  sent  to  "  Her 
Majesty's  Justices  of  Peace  for  the  County  of  Essex, 
Massachusetts  Bay,"  marked  a  great  step  forward 
toward  relisfious  tolerance.  Thou«"h  it  was  only  an 
opinion,  not  an  order,  yet  it  could  not  fail  to  have 
some  effect.     Its  conclusion  reads  as  follows  :  — 

"I  am  therefore  of  opinion  that  the  said  Petition" 
and  others  that  join  with  them  ought  to  be  peaceably 

^  E.  Vale  Smith's  History  of  Newburyport,  p.  300. 


36  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

allowed  in  their  lawful  proceedings  therein  for  their 
good  establishment,  and  ought  not  to  be  taxed  or  im- 
posed upon  for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  any 
other  public  worship  in  the  said  Town,  of  w*"^  I  desire 
all  persons  concerned  to  take  notice  accordingly."  ^ 

Opinion  differed  widely  as  to  the  wisdom  of  Governor 
Dudley's  course;  some  thought  it  a  shame  that  he 
should  have  encouraged  in  any  way  the  apostasy,  and 
others,  though  sad  enough  over  the  affair,  felt  that 
no  other  course  was  open  to  him.  Christopher  Toppan 
wrote  to  Cotton  Mather  that  there  "would  be  little 
reason  to  be  afraid  if  our  Rulers  had  the  Courage  to 
stand  by  our  Established  Laws ;  "  ^  but  Judge  Sewall, 
though  greatly  distressed  over  the  situation,  showed 
his  growing  tolerance  by  frankly  commending  Gov- 
ernor Dudley's  action  in  the  striking  words :  "  This 
seems  to  me  best  for  the  Precinct,  &  best  for  New- 
bury, &  for  the  Province,  and  most  for  the  interest 
of  Religion ;  and  we  should  stick  at  nothing  for 
Christ."  3 

We  are  indebted  to  Judge  Sewall's  letter-book  *  for 
the  following  deeply  interesting  letters  bearing  on  the 
case  of  the  church  in  Newbury.  The  town  was  Judge 
Sewall's  birthplace,  so  he  writes  to  those  whom  he 
knows  intimately.  His  pathetic  attempt  to  turn  the 
tide  is  an  evidence  of  the  earnestness  of  his  convictions 
and  his  belief  that  persuasion  is  better  than  force. 


^  Hist.  Collections  of  Colonial  CJi.  Mass.,  p.  108. 

2  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Proceedings,  first  series,  vol.  xii.  p.  378. 

^  Ibid.,  first  series,  vol.  xii.  p.  375. 

*  Ibid. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.      37 

TO   COLONEL   THOMAS   NOTES, 

March  3,  1711-12. 

Honored  Sir,  —  The  29*^^  of  Febr^  last  I  saw  the 
certainty  of  what  I  could  hardly  believe  before,  namely 
Deacon  Merril,  Deacon  Brown,  John  Bartlett  and 
others,  22  in  all.  Presenting  a  Petition  to  the  Governour 
by  Joseph  Bayly  one  of  the  22  subscribers,  Praymg  his 
Excellency's  protection  of  them,  as  being  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  of  England;  That  they  might  not  be 
oppressed  with  Rates,  whereas  they  did  not  any  longer 
continue  in  the  Separation  of  their  mistaken  dissenting 
Brethren.  This  was  done  Feb.  27.  But  the  Govern- 
our showed  it  to  the  Council  the  29*^. 

Now,  though  't  is  well  enough  known  what  was  the 
Spring  of  their  motion  ;  &  notwithstanding  their  Aprons 
of  Fig  Leaves  they  walk  naked  &  their  Neighbours  see 
their  Shame ;  yet  I  apprehend  it  will  be  most  advisable 
for  those  of  the  West  Precinct  not  to  meddle  with 
them,  or  forcibly  take  anything  of  them  towards  de- 
fraying any  of  the  Charges  of  the  Precinct.  This 
seems  to  me  best  for  the  Precinct  &  best  for  Newbury 
&  for  the  Province,  and  most  for  the  Interest  of  Reli- 
gion ;  and  we  should  stick  at  nothing  for  Christ.  I 
am.  Sir,  your  friend  &  humble  serv*. 

S.  Sewall. 

TO   MR.    JOHN   WEBSTER   AT  NEWBURY. 

March  12, 1711-12. 

Loving  Landlord,  —  Go  to  him  [Joshua  Brown]  in 
your  own  name  and  mine,  but  especially  in  the  name  of 
God ;  Give  him  M^   Higginson's  sermon ;  tell  him  I 


38  THE  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

have  sent  it  to  him  as  a  Token  of  my  Love.     Demand 

of  him,  whether  that  which  M^  Higginson  &  the  New 

England  Worthies  accounted  the  Cause  of    God,  he 

does  advisedly  to  account  it  the  Cause  of  the  evil  one, 

&  to   desert  it  accordingly  ?     Ask  him  whether  it  be 

Best  to   have   the    Sign    of  the    Cross   in   Baptisme? 

Whether  it  be  best  to  have  a  great  niunber  of  days  in 

the   year  placed  as   high  as    the  Lord's  day,    if    not 

above  it  ? 

Your  friend  &  serv*. 

s.  s. 

TO   MR.    NATHAN   COFFIN. 

March  12, 1711-12. 

Sm,  —  I  have  thought  on  your  Words  relating  to 
the  West  Precinct  of  Newbury  mentioned  in  your  letter 
of  22  of  January  last.  It  came  to  my  mind  that  my 
Landlord  Webster  was  a  near  neighbour  to  Joshua 
Brown  for  many  years.  You  are  a  younger  Man  &  a 
Deacon.  I  would  have  you  goe  to  M^  Webster  & 
accompany  him  to  your  brother  Deacon  Brown  &  speak 
to  him  with  that  Seriousness  &  Solemnity  as  the  Case 
requires ;  &  see  if  you  can  reclaim  him  &  recover 
him.  ...  Be  not  discouraged  with  having  yourself  & 
Ancestors  Reproached  with  the  Slander  of  being  Mis- 
taken dissenting  brethren.  The  Godly  New  England 
Planters  pretended  no  Separation,  but  what  the  2  Cor. 
No.  6,  17,  18  did  Command  &  justify  &  Encourage. 
I  take  that  portion  of  the  Divine  Oracles  to  be  New 
England's  Magna  Charta. 

Your  humble  friend  and  servant, 

S.  S. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.      39 

Christopher  Toppan  wrote  to  Cotton  Mather  in  an 
entirely  different  vein,  ridiculing  the  new  church  and 
condemning  the  opinion  of  Dudley.  It  is  not  unlikely 
that  Toppan's  words  represented  the  general  feeling  of 
the  people  throughout  the  colony,  for  they  were 
angered  by  the  success  of  the  new  venture,  and  fear- 
ful of  the  consequences  that  might  follow  an  increase 
in  the  number  of  parishes  of  the  Church  of  England. 

CHRISTOPHER  TOPPAN   TO   COTTON  MATHER. 

Perceiving  that  some  of  the  Ceremonies  were  Camels 
too  big  for  them  at  first  to  swallow,  [he]  told  them  that 
they  should  be  left  to  their  Liberty  ;  as  to  kneeling  at 
the  Sacrament,  Baptizing  with  the  Sign  of  the  Cross 
&c.  This  hath  wonderfully  taken  with  them  &  a 
great  means  to  encourage  them  in  their  factious  pro- 
ceedings. 

His  Excellency's  Opinion  in  this  point  has  strangely 
elated  the  Spirit  &  Courage  of  our  Apostat  Brethren  ; 
&  by  this  means  they  expect  their  number  will  be 
greatly  increased.  Of  which  there  would  be  little 
reason  to  be  afraid  if  our  Rulers  had  the  Courage  to 
stand  by  their  own  Established  Laws,  in  standing  by 
which  they  may  expect  that  God  will  own,  bless,  & 
prosper  them.  But  if  through  a  Spirit  of  Cowardice, 
they  Shrink  in  their  Shoulders  &  are  afraid  to  appear 
for  Christ  &  the  Interest  of  Religion  among  us,  then,  — 
Why  does  he  direct  it  to  the  Justices  unless  he  meant 
his  Opinion  should  be  a  Law  to  them  ?  But  is  his 
Opinion  the  Law  of  the  Province  ?  God  forbid  that  it 
should. 


40  THE  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

The  letter  of  the  worthy  Dr.  Benjamin  Coleman  to 
his  friend,  Dr.  White  Kennett,  Dean  of  Peterborough, 
and  afterwards  bishop,  written  from  Boston  in  Novem- 
ber, 1712,  gives  another  account  of  the  Newbury 
matter.  His  interpretation  is  not  wholly  in  accord  with 
the  documents  that  have  been  preserved.  Dr.  Coleman 
remonstrates  against  the  sending  of  missionaries  into 
New  England  by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  argues  that  there  is 
no  need  for  such  missionary  work.  The  letter  as  a 
whole  is  written  in  a  good  spirit.  It  is  brotherly  and 
courteous,  a  pleasant  sign  of  the  lifelong  friendship 
that  existed  between  the  bishop  and  his  Congregational 
brother.  Such  instances  of  friendly  respect  were  not 
common.  Whenever  they  occurred,  they  were  a  dehght- 
ful  prophecy  of  better  times  ahead.  After  thanking  Dr. 
Kennett  for  a  sermon  which  he  had  preached  recently, 
Dr.  Coleman  says  :  — 

"  This  last  year  a  Difference  happened  in  the  Town 
of  Newbury  about  placing  their  Meeting  House :  The 
matter  was  brought  before  our  General  Court  who  deter- 
mined it  according  to  the  free  Vote  and  Act  of  the 
Precinct,  whereby  they  had  obliged  themselves  to  each 
other;  Whereupon  a  Number  of  them  declare  them- 
selves for  the  Church  of  England;  Many  of  them  I 
will  suppose  Persons  of  Sobriety  and  Virtue,  only  in 
a  Pett,  and  to  save  their  Rate  to  their  aged  and  worthy 
minister,  Mr.  Belcher  ;  utterly  ignorant  of  the  Church 
they  declare  for,  nor  offended  in  the  least  with  the 
Form  of  Worship  or  Discipline  which  they  turn  from ; 
and  as  wide  herein  from  their  old  Pastors  Spirit  and 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.       41 

Principles,  which  are  as  Catholic  as  can  well  be  found 
among  other  Ministers  of  any  Denomination."  ^ 

Having  received  a  favorable  judgment  from  Governor 
Dudley,  and  a  satisfactory  answer  to  their  petition  from 
the  Bishop  of  London,  who  wrote  from  Fulham,  April 
19,  1712,  that  "  you  need  not  doubt  of  all  due  en- 
couragement so  far  as  the  difficulty  of  the  times  will 
allow,"  ^  the  churchmen  of  Newbury  continued  their 
religious  services,  aided  by  Rev.  Mr.  Harris  of  King's 
Chapel,  Boston,  and  the  Rev.  John  Lamb  ton,  chaplain 
to  her  Majesty's  ship  Phoenix.^  The  mission  found 
also  a  friend  in  his  Excellency  Francis  Nicholson, 
governor  of  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia,  who  acted 
in  the  interests  of  the  Venerable  Society  by  sending 
twenty  pounds  to  help  in  paying  the  salary  of  Rev. 
John  Lambton  while  he  temporarily  officiated  in  Queen 
Anne's  Chapel.  Owing  to  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Harris,  who  in  the  mean  time  had  gone  to  London,*  the 
Venerable  Society  transferred  Mr.  Lambton  from  his 
chaplaincy  on  board  the  Phoenix  to  the  position  of  per- 
manent missionary  in  Newbury,  he  thus  becoming  on 
November  14,  1712,^  the  first  minister  of  the  parish. 
Mr.  Lambton  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  sound 
learning  and  wisdom  in  the  management  of  his  new 
work.  One  of  his  early  letters,  dated  February  12, 
1713,  to  the  secretary  of  the  society,  describes  the  con- 
ditions as  he  found  them  :  "  Upon  my  arrival  at  New- 

^  E.  Turrell's  Life  of  Benjamin  Coleman,  p.  124. 

^  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  183. 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  94. 

*  Foote's  Annals  of  King^s  Chapel,  p.  241. 

*  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  89. 


42  THE  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

bury  I  found  a  handsome  building  raised  &  finished  at 
the  sole  cost  and  expence  of  the  inhabitants  in  that  place 
for  the  service  of  Almighty  God  according  to  y®  way 
of  worship  prescribed  in  our  excellent  Church.  There 
is  a  considerable  auditory  every  Sabbath  Day  to  the 
number  of  200  &  upwards  and  would  daily  increase 
only  they  are  imposed  upon  by  y®  neighborhood  to 
pay  to  the  Independent  Ministers  by  us.  Our  adver- 
saries here  insinuate  that  they  are  a  frivolous  and  in- 
considerate ill  people  w"^  is  quite  otherwise  as  Rev*^  M' 
Harris  who  has  lived  among  them  and  myself  now 
present  w*^  them  can  testifie.  They  are  a  sober  good 
people  &  were  settled  in  their  principles  by  reading 
D""  King's  books  &  others  w*"^  have  been  dispens'd 
among  them  by  y®  Minister  of  y^  Church  of  England 
here."  ' 

The  worshij)pers  in  Queen  Anne's  Chapel  were  not 
to  remain  unmolested.  Governor  Dudley's  opinion 
protected  them  for  a  while,  —  long  enough  for  them  to 
organize.  The  spectacle,  however,  of  regular  Epis- 
copal services  was  too  much  for  the  authorities  of 
Newbury,  and  they  decided  to  collect ;from  the  Church 
of  England  people  the  rates  which  they  considered 
their  due  for  the  support  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Belcher  of 
"  Pipe-stave  "  meeting-house.  The  wardens  and  vestry 
of  the  chapel  resisted  this  unfair  taxation,  for  they  did 
not  see  why  they  should  be  called  upon  to  support  two 
ministers.  The  result  was  that  Thomas  Brown  was 
carried  to  prison,  and  John  Merril,  summoned  before 
Justice  Jewett,  the  local  judge,  was  seized  "  just  when 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  90. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.      43 

we  were  about  to  receive  the  blessed  sacrament."  ^ 
William  Huse  had  a  parcel  of  cloth  taken  from  him 
for  the  taxes.  In  this  emergency  the  wardens  sent  an 
earnest  appeal  to  Governor  Nicholson  saying  that  they 
were  accused  of  being  "  Popish  and  Superstitious,"  and 
that  their  enemies  were  forming  "  plots  and  machina- 
tions to  check  the  growth  and  wholly  to  extirpate 
the  Church  of  England."  Nicholson  responded  nobly, 
sending  a  lawyer,  whom  he  paid,  to  argue  the  cases 
which  had  been  appealed  from  Justice  Jewett  to  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  at  Ipswich.  After  a  heated 
contest,  the  judgment  against  them  was  reversed.  There 
was  quiet  for  a  season,  but,  as  one  of  them  expressed  it, 
"  these  poor  persecuted  Churchmen  are  subject  to  the 
menace  terrour  and  execution  of  that  Judicial  Warrant 
(tho'  at  present  freed  from  it  whilst  under  the  Patron- 
age of  CoP  Nicholson  but  when  he  leaves  this  country 
they  will  be  left  in  some  distress)." " 

Mr.  Lambton's  ministry  continued  until  1714,  when, 
his  health  becoming  poor,  he  was  obliged  to  resign. 
Mr.  John  Bridges  again  came  to  the  aid  of  the  mission 
by  securing  while  he  was  in  London  the  services  of  the 
Rev.  Henry  Lucas,  the  second  missionary  appointed  by 
the  society.  Bridges  wrote  to  the  churchwardens  in 
Newbury  on  May  20,  1715,  that  "  Mr.  Lucas  has  given 
me  his  word  that  he  will  do  all  that  in  him  lies  to  pro- 
mote true  religion  by  a  strict  and  vertuous  life,  whereby 
the  Church  will  be  much  increased  I  am  sure."  ^  Mr. 
Lucas  arrived  at  his  post  of  duty  on  September  17, 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  3fass.,  p.  88. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  110. 

'  Records,  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport. 


44  THE  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

1715,  to  find  that  the  interregnum  had  not  been  favor- 
able to  the  interests  of  the  church.  Its  enemies  had 
taken  possession  of  the  building  and  removed  the  "  Or- 
naments Vestments  and  Books,"  and  one  of  the  Con- 
gregational teachers  had  preached  in  the  pulpit  every 
Sunday,  giving  up  the  practice  only  when  Mr.  Lucas 
arrived,  but  continuing  to  preach  for  two  months  in  a 
house  so  near  that  his  voice  disturbed  the  worshippers. 
Mr.  Lucas  began  his  work  with  much  success  and  ear- 
nestness, and  for  a  time  was  able  to  maintain  himself 
undisturbed,  preaching  and  baptizing  not  only  in  his 
own  parish,  but  in  the  neighboring  towns.  He  relates 
an  incident  of  picturesque  interest  when  he  went  to 
Salisbury,  a  few  miles  distant,  to  baptize  two  children  : 
"  This  was  the  cause  of  great  appearance  of  People  who 
deny  water  and  Infant  Baptism.  There  were  a  great 
many  Quakers,  Annabaptists,  and  Presbyterians  or  In- 
dependents which  came  out  of  curiosity  to  see  the  per- 
formance. Upon  this  having  read  the  Common  Prayer 
and  Baptized  the  children  I  preached  a  Sermon  upon 
John  the  S^^  &  the  5*^  which  had  such  influence  (by  the 
blessing  of  God)  upon  some  of  them  that  they  were 
resolved  to  have  their  children  baptized."  * 

Whatever  the  reason  may  have  been,  and  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  find  out,  the  church  did  not  prosper  under  Mr. 
Lucas.  He  was  disappointed  because  he  did  not  have 
the  conveniences  of  a  suitable  home  for  his  family,  and 
he  was  not  by  temperament  fitted  to  withstand  the 
annoyance  of  little  daily  persecutions.  He  writes  that 
his   house   had  "  no  manner  of  conveniency   for   the 

1  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  128. 


ORIGIN   OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.      45 

keeping  any  living  creature  &  it  has  but  two  habitable 
rooms."  Matters  grew  worse  in  1720 ;  and  after  five 
years  of  service,  he  died,  August  23, 1720/  His  death 
must  have  been  sudden,  for  it  gave  his  enemies  a 
chance  to  slander  his  memory.  Judge  Sewall  has  per- 
petuated the  slander  in  his  diary  by  recording  that  on 
"Aug*  20  1720  :  'T  is  said  Mr.  Lucas,  the  Church  of 
England  Minister,  cut  his  own  throat  at  Newbury. 
However,  the  Minister  of  Marblehead  set  a  good  face 
on  it  had  the  Corps  carried  into  the  Church,  preached 
a  Funeral  sermon  and  buried  him  therein.  A  rufuU 
consecration  of  the  chapel."  ^  It  is  to  be  noted  that 
this  record  of  Sewall's  contains  an  error  in  date.  It 
purports  to  have  been  written  August  20,  1720,  but 
could  not  have  been,  for  this  would  be  three  days 
before  the  death  of  Mr.  Lucas,  not  to  mention  his 
funeral.  Sewall  must  have  "  written-up "  his  diary 
some  time  after  the  events  happened,  and  thus  made 
his  mistake  in  dates.  He  manifestly  takes  a  grim  satis- 
faction in  recording  the  rumor  which  is  apparently 
founded  on  hearsay,  as  is  indicated  by  the  expression, 
"  'T  is  said."  It  is  further  made  improbable  by  the 
fact  that  it  is  not  mentioned  in  Mr.  John  Bridges's 
letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  Venerable  Society,  an- 
nouncing the  death  of  Mr.  Lucas.  If  Mr.  Lucas  had 
committed  suicide,  the  Rev.  David  Mossom  of  Marble- 
head  would  not  have  used  the  full  service  at  the  funeral, 
nor  had  him  buried  in  the  church  building.     Perhaps 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  134. 
^  Diary  of  Samuel  Sewall,  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  5th  series,  vol.  vii. 
p.  260. 


46  THE  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

it  was  because  of  this  report  that  Mr.  Mossom  made 
every  effort  to  contradict  it  by  the  funeral  service  and 
burial  within  the  church  building. 

The  next  missionary  appointed  was  the  Rev.  Matthias 
Plant,  of  Staffordshire,  England.  He  was  the  immedi- 
ate predecessor  of  Edward  Bass.  He  seems  to  have 
been  in  every  way  a  worthy  man,  who  went  to  Newbury 
with  the  intention  of  entering  into  the  life  of  the  com- 
munity and  building  up  his  parish  for  the  glory  of 
God.  His  long  and  faithful  ministry,  from  April,  1722, 
to  April  2,  1753,  thirty-one  years  in  all,  was  marked  by 
the  steady  growth  of  his  church ;  and  he  won  the  re- 
spect and  honor  of  the  citizens.  From  the  beginning 
he  met  with  courtesy  from  his  neighbors  who  differed 
from  him.  So  marked  were  their  kind  attentions  that 
his  letters  contain  expressions  of  appreciation  which 
contrast  refreshingly  witli  the  complaints  of  unjust 
treatment  often  employed  by  the  missionaries.  In  one 
letter  he  says,  "  I  find  both  my  people  and  other  in- 
habitants very  civil  and  indeed  kind  unto  me,  several 
not  belonging  unto  my  church  contributing  something 
to  me ; "  ^  and  again,  he  refers  to  the  "  extraordinary 
civility  besides  kindness  "  shown  him.  These  evidences 
that  neighborliness  and  brotherly  kindness  were  not 
absent  in  the  treatment  of  the  Church  of  England  min- 
ister by  those  who  differed  from  him  could  be  multi- 
plied not  only  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Plant,  but  in  those 
of  the  other  Massachusetts  missionaries.  Sometimes 
there  was  a  signal  example  of  friendship,  as  when  Mr. 
Plant  was  asked  by  Deacon  Archelaus  Woodman,  of  the 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  1 11. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.       47 

"  Pipe-stave  hill "  meeting-house,  to  pray  by  the  bed- 
side of  his  sick  wife.^  Though  Mr.  Plant  thus  dwelt 
on  terms  of  intimacy  with  his  neighbors,  he  could  not 
yield  a  point  in  his  opposition  to  their  religious  methods, 
and  when  writing  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  on 
the  subject  of  Episcopahans  being  taxed  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  lawful  minister  of  the  town,  he  received  a 
wise  rebuke  from  William  Dummer,  Jr.,  governor,  who 
advised  him  as  to  the  wording  of  his  petition  thus  :  "  I 
advise  you  when  you  mention  ministers  in  the  Towns 
that  you  give  them  the  character  the  Law  of  this  prov- 
ince vests  them  with,  viz.,  ministers  not  Dissenting 
Teachers  for  that  gives  offence  to  the  Court."  ^ 

Mr.  Plant  regularly  exercised  his  literary  skill  by 
keeping  a  diary  in  which  he  noted  events  of  passing 
interest,  and  sometimes  used  the  parish  record-book  to 
relate,  on  the  same  page  with  records  of  marriages, 
births,  and  deaths,  such  an  uncommon  occurrence  as  an 
earthquake,  his  words  being  suggestive  of  the  attend- 
ant violence :  "  It  was  terrible,  sudden,  and  amazing. 
It  continued  very  terrible  by  frequently  bursting  and 
shocking  our  houses,  sometimes  breaking  out  with  loud 
claps  six  times  or  oftener  in  a  day  until  Thursday.  A 
new  spring  was  opened  in  a  meadow,  and  in  the  lower 
grounds  several  loads  of  white  sand  were  thrown  up."  ^ 
The  secretary  of  the  society  was  sometimes  informed  of 
such  unecclesiastical  happenings  as  the  "  small  rains," 
causing  such  a  drought  that  "  our  Creatures  were  either 
sent  out  of  the  Country  or  else  killed  &  barrel'd  up." 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  431. 
2  Ibid.,  p.  206.  3  October  29, 1727. 


48  THE  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

However,  the  worthy  missionary  seemed  to  feel  that 
these  secular  accounts  were  not  in  the  line  of  profes- 
sional statistics,  so  he  generally  added :  "  Pardon  me  for 
this  out  of  the  way  narration." 

The  growth  of  the  village  at  "  the  water-side  "  becom- 
ing large,  certain  of  the  influential  parishioners  of  Queen 
Anne's  Chapel  removed  from  "  the  plains,"  and  finally 
erected  a  second  Episcopal  Church,  which  they  named 
St.  Paul's.  This  was  in  the  year  1742.  The  new  par- 
ish introduced  a  question  of  some  importance  to  Mr. 
Plant.  It  was  whether  he  should  be  the  minister  of 
both  Queen  Anne's  Chapel  and  St.  Paul's  Church. 
Certain  of  the  proprietors  of  the  last-named  church 
desired  a  new  minister,  for  Mr.  Plant  was  getting  on  in 
years,  and  they  thought  he  had  enough  to  attend  to  in 
his  chapel.  Mr.  Plant,  however,  had  no  doubts  in  his 
own  mind  as  to  the  question.  He  considered  himself 
the  "  Chief  Minister  "  of  the  parish,  and  would  agree 
to  the  calling  of  another  minister  only  on  condition  that 
the  newcomer  should  be  his  assistant.  This  contro- 
versy continued  for  many  years,  Mr.  Plant  demanding 
"  induction "  into  the  office  of  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  and  promising  that  if  this  was  granted  him,  he 
would  relinquish  £20  of  his  salary  to  the  assistant  that 
should  be  selected. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  opposition,  but  Mr.  Plant 
was  successful  in  his  contention,  and  secured  his  "in- 
duction "  into  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's  Church  on 
June  24,  1751,  thus  winning  for  himself  the  commen- 
dation of  Bishop  Bass's  successor,  Dr.  Morss,  who  said 
of  him  in  his  "Century  Sermon:"  "Mr.  Plant  appears 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  NEWBURYPORT.      49 

to  have  been  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  of  a  high  sense 
of  decorum  and  of  the  distinctive  rights  of  the  Clergy 
and  Laity.  He  was  exact  and  methodical ;  punctual  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  station ;  and  anxious 
that  the  Clergy  and  Laity  should  move  in  their  distinc- 
tive sphere  without  interference." 

In  spite  of  all  objections  he  carried  his  point,  and 
answered  even  the  trivial  charge  that  he  of&ciated  in 
church  with  a  colored  handkerchief  round  his  neck 
instead  of  a  band,  by  stating  that  "  I  never  once  in  my 
whole  time  of  preaching  here  went  to  church  to  officiate 
without  a  band,  nor  do  I  remember  the  time  when  I 
wore  a  spreckled  handkerchief,  nay  I  never  buried  an 
infant  in  the  most  tempestuous  weather  without  a  band 
though  I  rode  several  miles  to  perform  it."  ^ 

It  was  by  means  of  the  peaceful  settlement  of  this 
dispute  that  an  assistant  minister  was  called  to  St.  Paul's 
Church.  Young  Edward  Bass  was  selected  to  occupy 
this  important  position,  and,  with  the  object  in  view  of 
becoming  a  minister  in  Newburyport,  this  "  forward 
young  man "  had  gone  to  England  to  secure  ordina- 
tion, and,  returning  in  1752,  he  entered  upon  his  duties 
in  what  proved  to  be  the  work  of  his  life,  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  John  Lambton,  Henry  Lucas,  and  Matthias 
Plant,  ministers  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Massa- 
chusetts Bay. 

1  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  381. 


CHAPTER  III. 

EABLY   MINISTRY    OF    EDWARD    BASS. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  Edward  Bass  as  assistant 
minister  and  resident  in  Newbury  port,  the  wisdom  of 
his  ordination  became  apparent.  Mr.  Plant  did  not 
live  long  enough  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  having  a  con- 
genial co-worker  with  him  in  his  parish,  for  he  died  on 
April  2,  1753,  in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his  age,  and 
was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel, 
the  edifice  in  which  he  had  preached  for  so  many 
years. 

The  fact  of  Mr.  Plant's  death  and  the  state  of  the 
mission  were  communicated  to  the  society  in  England, 
from  the  manuscript  journal  of  which  we  obtain  impor- 
tant information  concerning  the  character  of  Mr.  Plant 
and  the  appointment  of  Bass  as  his  successor :  — 

"  19  October  1753.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Church- 
wardens of  S*  Anns  Chapel  in  Newbury  Dated  April 
6*^  1753.  acquainting  the  Society  with  the  Death  of 
M""  Plant,  whereby  to  Use  their  express  Words  they 
are  depriv'd  of  a  worthy  Minister,  whose  Labours  have 
by  Gods  Blessing  succeeded  not  only  in  Newbury,  but 
Almsbury,  Salisbury,  and  adjacent  Towns,  and  their 
Number  of  Communicants  is  40.  tho'  by  Reason  of  M' 
Plants  long  Illness,  they  had  had  Divine  Service  per- 
form'd  but  thrice  in  their  Chapel  from  Decern'  1750, 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  61 

and  at  his  Funeral,  when  the  Rev*^  D"^  Cutler  Preached 
to  them ;  they  maintain  Peace  and  Union  among  them- 
selves, and  labour  to  Keep  up  the  good  Understanding 
subsisting  between  them,  and  their  Brethren  of  the 
new  Church,  whom  they  wish  much  Happiness  in  their 
worthy  Minister  M""  Bass,  and  they  hope  the  Society 
will  please  to  send  them  a  new  Missionary  in  the  Room 
of  M""  Plant,  there  being  a  Glebe  of  10  Acres  of  good 
Land  near  the  Church,  and  they  will  endeavour  to  raise 
up  their  present  Subscriptions  to  £20  Sterling  p  An- 
num, and  hope  to  be  able  to  Build  a  Parsonage  House. 

"  Whereupon  it  was  Agreed  to  recommend  to  the 
Society  that  M""  Bass  may  succeed  M""  Plant  in  the 
Mission  to  the  new  Church  at  Newbury,  and  that  he 
officiate  Hkewise  at  least  once  in  a  Month  at  S*"  Ann's 
Chapel. 

"  Resolved  to  Agree  with  the  Committee,  and  that 
M'  Bass's  Salary  be  <£50  a  Year  to  commence  from 
Lady  Day  last."  ^ 

"  19  October  1753.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev*^ 
M""  Bass  Dated  Newbury  April  11*''  1753,  acquainting 
with  the  Death  of  M'  Plant,  and  that  from  the  Societys 
Directions  to  M""  Plant  concerning  him  to  pay  him  <£20 
Sterling  p  Annum,  as  his  Assistant,  when  in  Orders,  he 
expected  to  receive  it  from  the  Day  of  his  Ordination, 
but  M"  Plant  was  for  Dating  it  from  the  first  Sunday 
of  his  officiating  for  him,  which  was  not  till  six  Months 
afterwards,  by  Reason  of  his  being  detain'd  by  Sick- 
ness in  London  at  a  very  great  Expence,  and  they 
Agreed  in  M"^  Plants  Life  Time  to  refer  the  Matter  to 

*  Journal,  vol.  xii.  pp.  277,  279. 


52  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  Society,  which  he  hopes  will  be  pleased  to  deter- 
mine ;  and  M""  Bass  adds  that  the  new  Church  is  like 
to  flourish  and  increase  very  much. 

"  Whereupon  it  was  Agreed  as  the  Opinion  of  the 
Committee  that  M""  Plant  should  not  pay  M'^  Bass  any 
Salary,  'till  he  actually  began  to  do  Duty  for  him. 

"  Resolved  to  Agree  with  the  Committee."  ^ 

"  17  Feby  1755.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev-*  M"^ 
Bass  the  Society's  Missionary  at  Newbury  in  New  Eng- 
land dated  Ocf^  7*^  1754  returning  his  humble  Thanks 
to  the  Society  for  his  appointment  to  that  Mission  in 
which  there  are  about  700  Families,  70  of  which  are  of 
the  Church,  &  the  rest  Independents,  Except  one  Con- 
gregation of  Presbyterians,  &  a  small  Society  of  Qua- 
kers. He  had  baptized  in  his  Ministration  there  35  In- 
fants, whites,  &  3  Adult  Negroe  Slaves,  who  behave 
Soberly  and  he  hath  40  Communicants  some  of  them 
new  Ones  of  a  blameless  &  Christian  Behaviour."  ^ 

Young  Bass  thus  entered  upon  the  rectorship  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  beginning  his  long  ministry  of  over 
fifty  years.  These  years  were  to  be  crowded  with  inci- 
dent, signalized  by  faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  made  happy  by  the  growing  love  of  his  people, 
and  broadened  by  a  large  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church  in  Massachusetts  and  in  the  nation.  Passing 
through  the  severe  experience  of  the  Revolution,  he 
was  destined  to  gain  an  increasing  influence,  as  years 
accumulated,  to  be  honored  in  the  closing  days  of  his 
life  by  being  consecrated  bishop,  and  tenderly  beloved 
in  his  town  and  diocese. 

1  Journal,  vol.  xii.  p.  279.  ^  Ibid.,  vol.  xiii.  p.  26. 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  53 

Coffin,  in  his  "  History  of  Newbury,"  devotes  more 
space  to  Mr.  Plant  than  to  Mr.  Bass,  for  the  obvious 
reason  that  Plant  was  one  of  those  men  who  kept  a 
diary,  which  became  easily  accessible  as  material  from 
which  to  draw  interesting  facts.  The  historian  seemed 
more  interested  in  copying-  the  epitaph  of  Bass  than  in 
giving  any  exact  information  about  him.  This  ministry 
of  fifty-one  years  is  passed  over  in  a  sentence,  the  leap 
being  made  from  the  ordination  to  the  inscription  on 
his  tombstone.  Perhaps  Coffin  had  some  justification 
in  the  length  of  the  inscription,  which  is  full  enough  to 
contain  almost  all  the  desired  information. 

When  Bass  became  rector,  he  was  only  about  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age ;  young,  strong,  and  healthy,  of 
medium  height,  well  proportioned,  having  a  pleasing 
face,  with  blue  eyes  and  fair  complexion  and  light  hair. 
The  only  defect  in  the  face  was  the  length  of  the  nose, 
the  most  marked  feature.  The  two  portraits  painted  at 
a  much  later  date  give,  however,  the  general  shape  and 
contour  of  the  head ;  from  these  we  can  form  some 
idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  young  missionary. 

Whether  because  of  his  personal  attractiveness,  or  his 
persistence,  he  did  not  have  to  wait  long  before  he  won 
the  heart  of  young  Sarah  Beck,  whom  he  married  in 
1754.  The  increase  in  his  domestic  needs  may  have 
been  the  occasion  of  the  first  appearance  of  his  name 
on  the  records  of  the  parish.  The  salary  of  each  mis- 
sionary, paid  from  England,  was  about  £50,  but  this 
sum  was  supplemented  by  contributions  from  the  mis- 
sion. An  addition  to  the  missionary's  stipend  was  made 
soon  after  his  marriage.     The  generosity  of  the  propri- 


54  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

etors  is  exhibited  in  the  record,  that  "  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Proprietors  of  S*  Pauls  Church  April  21,  1755, 

"  Voted,  That  the  Said  Proprietors  pay  unto  the 
Said  Rev*^  Edw^  Bass  Two  Hundred  &  Twenty-five 
Pounds  Old  Tenor  to  be  raised  by  Subscription  from 
Easter  last  till  Easter  1756. 

"  That  if  this  Subscription  Should  fail  of  making  up 
the  afores^  Sum  the  Non-Subscriber  Pews  to  be  rated 
by  the  Committee  above  chosen  Last  Easter  to  make  up 
that  deficiency." 

Two  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds  seems  like  a 
large  sum  for  an  increase  in  the  salary  of  the  young 
minister,  but  the  qualifying  words  are  "  Old  Tenor ;  " 
these  recall  the  financial  difficulties  of  the  colonies  when 
new  issues  of  money  were  constantly  made  to  take  the 
place  of  a  depreciated  currency.  There  was  "  old 
tenor,  middle  tenor,  new  tenor  first,  new  tenor  second, 
etc."  ^  In  reality,  therefore,  payment  was  being  made 
to  Bass  in  a  currency  that  had  greatly  fallen  off  in  value. 
One  Joseph  Green  of  Boston  had  already  written  his 
celebrated  song  to  the  tune  of  "  Chevy  Chase  "  on  the 
death  of  "  Mr.  Old  Tenor :  "  — 

"  The  merchants  too,  those  topping  folks, 
To  him  owe  all  their  riches, 
Their  ruffles,  lace  and  scarlet  cloaks, 
And  eke  their  velvet  breeches." 

In  the  same  year,  1755,  an  event  occurred  to  make 
the  services  in  St.  Paul's  Church  more  attractive.  The 
rector  must  have  been  as  much  interested  in  it  as  the 
parishioners ;  it  was  nothing  less  than  the  purchase  of 

1  Horace  White,  Money  and  Banking,  p.  128. 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  55 

the  organ  of  King's  Chapel,  from  Charles  Apthorp, 
Esq.,  treasurer,  and  the  setting  of  it  up  in  Newbury- 
port.  This  celebrated  organ,  the  first  used  in  any  New 
England  church,  had  been  received  by  King's  Chapel 
as  a  bequest  from  Thomas  Brattle,  treasurer  of  Har- 
vard College,  who  had  left  it  in  1713,  in  the  first  place, 
to  the  Brattle  Square  Church,  and,  in  case  of  its  refusal 
to  accept  it,  to  King's  Chapel.  The  will  of  Thomas 
Brattle  declared  that  "  I  give,  dedicate  and  devote  my 
organ  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God  in  the  S*^  Church," 
adding  that  a  "  sober  person  "  must  be  procured  that 
"  can  play  skilfully  thereon  with  a  loud  noise."  ^  The 
bequest  was  refused  by  the  Brattle  Square  Church  for 
the  reason  that  "  it  was  not  thought  proper  to  use  the 
same  in  the  public  worship  of  God."  An  organ  in  a 
private  house  was  a  curiosity,  and  people  used  to  visit 
Mr.  Brattle  in  order  to  see  it.  Thomas  Green's  diary 
refers  to  such  a  visit  in  1711 :  "  Was  at  Mr.  Thomas 
Brattle's ;  heard  yo  organ  and  saw  Strange  Things  in  a 
microscope."  ^  But  to  supplement  the  traditional  five 
tunes  with  a  "  boisterous  organ  "  was  looked  upon  as 
a  sin  and  interference  with  worship.  If  such  music 
was  admitted,  Cotton  Mather  could  not  see  why  all  the 
instruments  used  by  the  ancients  could  not  also  be  used, 
with  "  Dancing  and  several  other  Judaic  actions." 

In  spite  of  ridicule  and  denunciation  of  the  sinful 
character  of  instrumental  music,  the  rector  and  wardens 
considered  themselves  fortunate  in  procuring  the  organ 
from  King's  Chapel.     This  action  brought  them  under 

1  Foote,  Annals  of  King's  Chapel,  vol.  i.  p.  209. 
^  Essex  Institute  Proceedings,  vol.  x.  p.  96. 


66  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  condemnation  of  the  strikingly  ironical  pamphlet, 
called  "  Real  Advantages  which  ministers  and  People 
may  enjoy  by  Conforming  to  the  Church  of  England, 
in  a  letter  to  a  young  Gentleman."  One  of  the  advan- 
tages was  thus  set  forth :  "  Wonderful  also  is  the  im- 
provement our  Church  has  made  in  our  worship  by 
organs.  How  inspired  was  the  music  of  the  primitive 
Christians  compared  with  what  is  now  used  in  most  of 
our  Churches  ?  The  organs  charm  the  ear,  they  ravish 
the  heart  and  carry  the  souls  of  the  churchmen  in  rap- 
ture to  heaven.  And  what  is  of  more  importance  they 
sometimes  allure  some  of  the  more  musical  sorts  of  dis- 
senters to  come  to  Church."  ^ 

Owing  to  an  important  rule  of  the  Venerable  Society 
which  required  its  missionaries  to  send  to  London  an- 
nual reports  of  their  work,  —  a  "  7iotitia parochialis/*  — 
we  are  able  to  give  a  series  of  letters  from  Bass  written 
to  the  secretary  of  the  society.  The  reports  of  some 
of  the  missionaries  were  often  too  sanguine ;  and  desir- 
ing to  make  a  fair  showing,  they  indulged  in  extreme 
statements,  which  made  the  authorities  at  home  feel 
that  the  work  was  growing  faster  than  it  really  was. 
Dr.  Caner,  rector  of  King's  Chapel,  was  moved  to  write 
to  the  archbishop  on  the  subject,  saying  that  "  the  un- 
guarded accounts  of  some  of  our  younger  missionaries 
sent  home  to  the  Society  are  too  literally  published  in 
their  abstracts.  These  accounts  are  so  very  sanguine 
that  I,  who  well  know  their  several  missions  and  the 
state  of  them,  have  myself  been  really  grieved  that  their 
letters  had  not  been  conceived  in  more  modest  terms."  ^ 

1  Real  Advantages,  p.  27. 

2  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  488. 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  57 

There  was  no  difficulty  in  arriving  at  the  true  state 
of  his  religious  work  in  the  temperate  letters  of  Bass. 
His  earliest  letters  have  not  been  preserved,  but  we 
have  references  to  them  in  the  Journal  of  the  society. 
Many  of  his  communications  were  mere  formal  state- 
ments of  his  official  acts,  with  the  usual  receipt  for  his 
salary,  the  frequent  reference  to  the  latter  being  part 
of  his  report.  Occasionally  there  are  matters  of  great 
interest  referred  to ;  when  this  is  the  case,  the  letters 
are  of  special  value.  The  letters  and  records  have  all 
been  copied  from  the  manuscripts  in  London  for  use 
in  these  pages. 

EXTRACTS    FROM   JOURNAL    OF   THE    SOCIETY. 

"  17  Decembr,  1756  Read  A  Letter  from  the 
Rev"^  M'"  Bass  Missionary  at  Newbury  in  New  England 
dated  Sep'  1'*  1756,  in  which  he  writes  that  since  his 
last  he  had  baptized  5  Infants  ;  &  he  desires  to  know 
the  Society's  pleasure  concerning  their  Library  which 
is  still  in  the  hands  of  the  late  Rev*^  M'  Plant's 
Executors. 

"  Agreed  to  recommend  to  the  Society  to  direct  the 
Secretary  to  write  to  M""  Plant's  Executors  to  deliver 
up  the  Library  for  y^  use  of  the  Mission."  ^ 

"  20  Jan^  1758  Read  A  Letter  from  y^  Rev*^  M"" 
Bass,  Missionary  at  Newbury  in  New  England,  dated 
Sep'  23*^  1757,  acquainting,  that  since  his  last  he  has 
baptized  11  Infants,  &  one  Adult,  (a  Woman  near  70 
years  of  age,)  &  also  received  one  new  Communicant. 
By  reason  of  y®  prevalence  of  Antinomian  Principles, 

'  Journal,  vol.  xiii.  p.  197. 


58  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

y"  Church  does  not  encrease  so  fast  as  might  be  wished, 
but  however  it  rather  gains  ground."  ^ 

"  16  March,  1759  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev** 
M'  Bass,  Missionary  at  Newbury  in  New  England, 
dated  the  29*''  of  September  1758,  in  which  he  writes, 
that  since  his  last  he  has  Baptized  six  Infants,  and 
one  Negro  Child  about  5  or  6  years  old;  and  has  re- 
ceived to  the  Communion,  upon  proper  examination,  an 
Elderly  Negro  Man,  who  appears  to  be  a  very  good 
Christian."  "■ 

COPIES   OF   AND   EXTRACTS   FROM   ORIGINAL  LETTERS. 

In  the  possession  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts. 

Newbury,  N.  England  25""  March  1759. 
Rev^  Doct^,  —  I  have  nothing  to  write  relating  to 
y°  Church,  which  remains  in  much  ye  same  state  it  hath 
been  in  for  some  time  past  but  only  that  I  have  bap- 
tized eight  Infants  since  my  last  in  the  preceding  half 
year.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  Salary, 
which  please  to  order  to  be  paid. 

I  am  Sir,  yr  most  obed*  hum^®  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  ye  Rev"  D''  Bearcroft 
At  ye  Charter  house 
London, 

Newbury  N.  England  Sept.  29""  1759. 

Rev^  Doct^,  — Since  my  last  I   have  baptized  six 

Infants,    and   there   hath   been  some  addition    to  the 

Church.     I  have  nothing  further  to  write,  but  that  I 

^  Journal,  vol.  xiv.  p.  21,  ^  Ibid.,  p.  145. 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  59 

have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  salary,  which  please 
to  order  to  be  paid. 

I  am  yr  most  obed*  hum^*  serv* 

Edwakd  Bass. 

To  the  Rev?  D^  Beaecroft 
At  the  Charter-house 
London. 

Newbury,  N.  England  24""  March  1760. 
Rev''  DoCT^ji  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  only 
three  Infants,  &  received  one  new  Communicant,  a 
person  of  very  good  character.  I  have  the  pleasure  of 
informing  the  Society  that  there  is  a  good  prospect  of 
the  Church's  increasing  here,  several  of  the  Dissenters 
of  repute  &  Substance  having  of  late  very  constantly 
attended  our  pubHck  worship.  I  have  drawn  for  my 
last  haK  years  salary  which  please  to  order  paid,  & 
you  '11  oblige 

Yr  most  obed*  hum'^  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev?  Dr  Bearcroft 

At  the  Charter-house 
London. 

Newbury,  N.  England  29""  Septembr  1760. 
Rev^  D^,  —  I  have  nothing  new  to  write  relating  to 
the  Church  here,  which  still  continues  to  increase  tho' 
very  gradually.  Since  my  last,  I  have  baptized  five 
Infants.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  haH  years  Salary, 
which  please  to  order  paid  &  you  '11  oblige 
Yr  most  obed*  hum'®  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  y'  Rev?  D"  Bearcroft 
At  y'  Charter-house. 


60  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Newbuky,  N.  England  25'"  March,  1761. 
Rev^  Doct^,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  seven 
infants  here,  and  six,  together  with  a  Negro  Woman 
and  her  three  children,  at  the  vacant  Mission  of  Hop- 
kin  ton,  whither  I  made  a  journey  last  fall,  and  preached 
to  a  considerable  congregation  in  the  Church,  who 
seem  to  be  earnestly  desirous  of  a  Missionary.  I  also 
preached,  two  or  three  months  ago,  at  Amsbury,  five  or 
six  miles  from  hence,  over  the  river  Merrimack,  to  a 
considerable  number  of  people  in  a  private  house  — 
but  they  are  now  preparing  to  build  a  Church,  which 
they  design  shall  be  fit  to  perform  divine  service  in, 
within  this  twelve  month,  and  they  are  in  hopes  of 
the  Society's  favours  in  due  time,  upon  compliance  with 
the  terms  required.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half 
years  salary  which  please  to  order  paid  and  you'll 
oblige 

Yr  most  obed*  hum  serv* 

Edw.  Bass. 

To  the  Kev^  Dk  Bearcroft 
At  the  Charter-house. 

Three  items  in  the  above  letter  are  worthy  of  notice : 
the  mention  of  the  "  negro  woman  and  her  three  chil- 
dren," "the  vacant  mission  at  Hopkinton,"  and  the 
services  at  Amesbury. 

The  Venerable  Society,  being  a  direct  descendant  of 
an  earher  society  founded  during  Cromwell's  time, 
which  sent  out  John  Eliot,  the  apostle  to  the  Indians, 
was  anxious  that  its  missionaries  should  not  neglect 
the  heathen  in  their  ministrations  to  the  colonists.  In 
accordance  with  this  desire  on  the  part  of  the  society. 


EAELY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  61 

its  missionaries  always  reported  with  special  emphasis 
any  offices  performed  for  the  Indians  or  negroes.  In 
Massachusetts  at  this  time  there  were  a  number  of 
negro  slaves,  who  frequently  were  not  permitted  by 
their  masters  to  join  the  Church  of  England.  Mr. 
Plant  reported  a  case  of  such  refusal  in  1727 : 
"  Negroe  slaves,  one  of  them  desirous  of  Baptism,  but 
denied  by  her  master,  a  woman  of  wonderful  sense  and 
prudent  in  matters,  of  equal  knowledge  in  Religion 
with  most  of  her  sex,  far  exceeding  any  of  her  own 
nation  that  ever  yet  I  heard  of."  ^  It  is  difficult  to 
ascertain  the  extent  of  slavery  in  the  commonwealth 
prior  to  the  Revolution,  but  references  are  frequent 
enouo-h  to  show  the  commonness  of  the  custom. 
Judge  Sewall  has  recorded  his  attempt  to  prevent 
"negroes  and  Indians  being  rated  with  horses  and 
cattle,  but  could  not  succeed."  In  the  inventories  of 
two  estates  in  Newburyport,  the  following  items  tell 
their  own  story  :  — 

Item,  three  negroes £133    6s.  8d. 

Item,  flax 12    2.    8. 

Item,  Fifteen  Sheep,  old  &  young   ...  3  15. 

Item,  an  old  negro  man 10.^ 

It  was  a  satisfaction  to  the  young  rector  when  he 
succeeded  among  the  slaves,  for  he  reports  with  evident 
pleasure  whenever  he  baptized  any  of  them. 

Bass's  preaching  at  the  mission  of  Hopkinton  gives 
us  a  chance  to  see  him  away  from  his  own  parish, 
coming  in  contact  with  the  cultured  and  charming  life 

'  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  233. 
2  Coffin's  History  of  Newbury,  p.  188. 


62  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

of  Hopkinton.  The  story  of  Hopkinton  is  like  a 
romance,  as  indeed  it  has  figured  in  a  novel  of  much 
historical  value,  —  Bynner's  "  Agnes  Surriage."  The 
town  became  the  summer  resort  of  the  more  wealthy 
churchmen  of  Boston,  especially  those  who  worshiped 
in  King's  Chapel,  the  rector  of  which,  Dr.  Price,  the 
bishop's  commissary,  had  started  the  mission  near  his 
own  summer  home.  It  was  his  delight  to  leave  the 
more  active  duties  of  the  city  for  his  quiet  home  in 
Hopkinton,  surrounded  by  his  congenial  parishioners. 
Handsome  residences  had  been  built  in  the  town ; 
and,  so  the  tradition  has  it,  the  life  of  the  people  was 
stately,  luxurious,  and  sometimes  frivolous.  At  any 
rate,  there  was  gayety  in  the  village  when  Charles 
Henry  Frankland,  descendant  of  Cromwell,  and  heir 
of  large  estates  in  England,  brought  to  Hopkinton  the 
beautiful  Agnes  Surriage,  his  mistress  and  afterwards 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  discovered  scrubbing  the  floor  of 
the  inn  at  Marblehead,  as  the  daughter  of  an  obscure 
fishermgn. 

The  worthy  Dr.  Price,  who  could  not  be  held  respon- 
sible for  the  eccentricities  of  his  parishioners,  had  died, 
leaving  the  mission  vacant ;  and  since  the  society  had 
not  seen  fit  to  supply  Hopkinton  with  a  permanent 
missionary,  the  residents  secured  the  kind  offices  of 
the  neighboring  clergy,  among  whom  Edward  Bass 
was  numbered. 

This  interest  in  church  work  outside  the  bounds 
of  his  own  parish  was  further  illustrated  by  the  active 
cooperation  of  Bass  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  mission 
at  Amesbury.     The  growth  of  the  church  throughout 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  63 

the  commonwealth  was  that  of  expansion  from  one 
well-established  centre  to  localities  where  no  services 
had  been  held,  —  a  very  natural  method  of  progress. 
For  years,  the  attempt  had  been  made  to  have  regu- 
lar services  in  Amesbury,  the  people  even  raising  a 
temporary  building  for  worship,  in  which  undertaking 
they  were  assisted  by  Mr.  Plant  to  the  extent  of  his 
providing  "  a  calf  towards  a  dinner  for  the  men 
who  raised  it  and  £5,  this  currency  for  nails  toward 
shingling  it."  References  to  Amesbury  are  frequent 
in  Bass's  letters,  indicating  that  the  rector  lost  none 
of  his  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  neighboring  church- 
men. 

For  many  years  the  relations  existing  between  the 
Church  of  England  ministers  and  the  Puritan  divines 
had  changed  from  the  antagonism  of  the  early  period 
of  New  England  history  to  that  of  friendly  intercourse 
and  courtesy.  What  was  true  of  the  ministers  was 
also  true  of  the  people.  The  very  general  assumption 
on  the  part  of  certain  historians  that  there  was  a  per- 
petual vendetta  between  the  worshipers  of  the  various 
churches  is  erroneous.  The  asperities  of  criticism  were 
often  softened  ;  and  Anglican  and  Puritan  learned  to 
respect  one  another.  There  are  abundant  evidences 
that  this  peaceful  state  of  affairs  continued  until  the 
year  1763,  when  conditions  that  will  be  referred  to 
changed  again  the  forbearance  to  open  hostility.  It 
is,  however,  well  worth  while  to  emphasize  this  interim 
of  peace,  extending  over  many  years.  The  Anglican 
missionary  in  Salem,  Mr.  McGilchrist,  wrote  in  1761, 
with  evident  pleasure,  that  "  differences  of  opinion  at 


64  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

present  cause  no  division  of  affection  between  the 
members  of  the  Church  of  England  and  the  Dissenters. 
Even  the  vulgar  have  learned  by  experience  that  there 
is  neither  idolatry  nor  popery  in  our  Service,  and  the 
church  is  always  crowded  when  any  of  their  meetings 
is  unsuppHed."  ^  This  statement  is  corroborated  by 
the  clergyman  at  Marblehead,  Rev.  Mr.  Weeks,  who, 
after  stating  that  two  of  the  Congregational  ministers 
of  the  town  frequently  attended  the  services  of  his 
church  on  the  special  festivals  held  on  days  other 
than  Sundays,  adds  that  "1  cannot  help  mentioning 
the  satisfaction  with  which  I  view  the  peaceable  and 
charitable  disposition  which  reigns  among  Persons  of 
all  denominations.  I  scarcely  ever  preach  but  I  can 
number  several  Dissenters  among  my  Hearers;  and 
upon  the  great  Festivals  of  our  church  they  generally 
make  no  scruple  of  attending  our  worship  and  that 
with  becoming"  seriousness."  ^  These  sentiments  are 
not  unlike  the  noble  words  of  Cotton  Mather  himself, 
who,  after  age  had  softened  him  and  he  no  longer 
feared  diversity  of  opinion  as  in  his  youth,  said  :  "  And 
let  the  Table  of  the  Lord  have  no  rails  about  it  that 
shall  hinder  a  Godly  Independent,  and  Presbyterian 
and  Episcopalian  and  Antepedo-baptist  and  Lutheran 
from  sitting  down  together.  In  the  church  that  I 
serve  I  have  seen  the  grateful  spectacle."  ^ 

What  has  been    just  said  about  the  intercourse  of 
churchmen  and  Puritans  will  help  to  explain  the  two 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  466. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  515. 

8  Foote's  Annals  of  King^s  Chapel,  p.  108. 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  65 

following  letters  of  Bass.  At  this  time,  and  specially 
later  in  his  life,  he  was  very  gracious  to  all  who  dif- 
fered from  him,  and  lived  on  terms  of  intimacy  with 
his  fellow-townsmen.  The  incident  that  called  forth 
a  remonstrance  was  the  unlawful  use  of  the  old  Queen 
Anne's  Chapel  at  "  the  Plains,"  which  had  been  super- 
seded by  St.  Paul's  Church.  A  new  parish  of  Congre- 
gationalists  had  been  incorporated  April  5,  1761,  and 
some  of  the  members  had  taken  forcible  possession  of 
the  building.  The  spirit  shown  by  them  was  what 
aroused  the  good  rector  to  send  his  note  of  disapproval. 
It  was  the  specific  act  of  intrusion  that  disturbed  him. 
The  property  belonged  to  the  society,  and  he  felt  that 
if  he  gave  a  right  to  the  new  parish  to  use  it,  it  might 
finally  be  confiscated. 

June  9,  1761. 

Gentlemen,  —  I  am  informed  that  you  with  a  num- 
ber of  people  whose  Committee  I  hear  you  are  broke 
into  the  old  Church  the  other  day.  I  shall  be  very  glad 
to  find  that  I  am  misinformed,  for  if  it  be  really  so,  I 
think  you  have  used  me  in  a  very  uncivil  and  ungen- 
tlemanlike  manner  and  without  any  provocation  and 
not  a  little  exposed  yourselves.  If  you  had  business  to 
transact,  or  any  grave  matters  to  talk  over  near  the 
Church  and  it  was  thought  necessary  or  convenient  that 
you  should  go  into  the  Church,  for  that  purpose,  I  don't 
know  of  anybody  that  would  have  been  against  it,  but 
certainly  you  ought  to  have  done  it  in  an  orderly  man- 
ner by  asking  leave  of  me  who  am  the  proper  guardian 
of  that  Church. 

Edwabd  Bass. 


66  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Nevtbury  N.  England,  Sept  29""  1761. 
Rev?  D%  —  I  am  sorry  I  have  occasion  to  complain 
of  any  of  the  Dissenters,  with  whom,  generally  speak- 
ing, I  live  in  very  good  harmony,  but  a  number  of 
them,  lately  made  a  Parish  by  our  general  Court,  have 
had  the  insolence  to  intrude  themselves,  with  two  of 
their  Teachers  into  the  Old  Church,  viz  Queen  Anne's 
Chapel,  in  this  Town,  and  to  hold  a  fast  in  it.  They 
had  once  or  twice  before  broke  into  the  Church,  to 
transact  their  parish  affairs,  without  asking  any  body's 
leave ;  and,  I  have  reason  to  think,  have  been  endea- 
vouring to  undermine  &  ruin  the  interest  of  the  Church 
in  that  part  of  the  Town.  Notwithstanding  which  they 
came  to  me,  about  two  months  before  their  late  intrusion, 
with  a  request  that  I  would  suffer  them  to  hold  their 
religious  meetings  in  the  Church,  till  they  could  build 
a  meeting  house  for  themselves,  which  I  thought  proper 
by  no  means  to  grant,  however  understanding  after- 
wards that  they  designed  to  go  in,  without  my  leave, 
being  countenanced  by  some  few  of  the  people  who 
usually  worship  at  that  Church  I  wrote  a  line  forbid- 
ding any  Dissenting  Teacher  to  officiate  in  the  Church, 
and  gave  it  to  the  churchwardens,  who  delivered  it  to 
the  two  fore-mentioned  Teachers,  as  they  were  going 
into  the  Church,  but  it  did  not  stop  them.  I  immedi- 
ately wrote  an  account  of  the  matter  to  Mr.  Bernard 
the  Governour  of  the  Province,  who  was  pleased  to  re- 
commend it  to  me  and  the  churchwardens  to  grant  their 
request,  they  disclaiming  all  right  to  the  Church,  and 
disavowing  the  force  that  has  been  used  by  them.  But 
I  wrote  back  to  his  excellency,  that  as  the  Rev**  & 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  67 

Hon^'®  Society  had  a  right  in  the  Church,  as  having 
supported  it  for  many  years  and  entrusted  it  to  my  care, 
I  thought  myself  obhged  to  wait  for  their  approbation, 
and  I  do  now  earnestly  request  a  line  from  the  Society 
as  soon  as  may  be,  directing  me  how  to  conduct  in  this 
affair.  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  four  Infants, 
whites,  and  three  Blacks,  viz,  a  man  &  wife  with  their 
child.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  Salary  which 
please  to  order  paid,  &  you  '11  oblige  yr  most  obedt 
hum'*  servt 

Edw"*  Bass. 

The  Rev"  Dr  Bearcroft. 

[Extract  from  Society's  Journal.] 

19  Feb^  1762.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev<^  M' 
Bass,  Miss"^  at  Newbury  in  New  England,  dated  New- 
bury, Sep'  29'''  1761.  .  .  .  Read  A  Letter  from  the 
Church  Wardens  of  Queen  Ann's  Chapel,  dated  New- 
bury in  New  England  October  10*''  1761,  begging  the 
Society's  advice  and  assistance  in  the  affair  of  Intru- 
sion lately  made  on  their  Church,  as  represented  in  M"" 
Bass's  Letter. 

Agreed  as  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  that  M' 
Bass  be  directed  to  follow  Governor  Barnard's  advice 
in  permitting  the  Dissenters  to  make  use  of  his  Church, 
for  a  limited  time,  (such  as  the  Governor  shall  recom- 
mend) provided  they  disclaim  all  manner  of  right  to  his 
Church,  &  provided  their  assembling  there  does  not 
interfere  with  the  hours  of  his  performing  divine  Ser- 
vice &  other  occasional  Duties  of  his  Parish. 

Resolved  to  agree  with  the  Committee.^ 

*  Journal,  vol.  xv.  p.  89. 


68  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Newbury  N.  England,  March  25"'  1762. 
Rev^  D^,  —  I  have  nothing  new  or  remarkable  to 
write  you,  all  things  relating  to  the  Church  here  are 
peaceable  and  quiet,  as  they  have  ever  been,  saving  that 
intrusion  of  the  Dissenters  of  which  I  gave  you  an  ac- 
count in  my  last.  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  eight 
Infants,  whites.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years 
salary  which  please  to  order  paid,  &  you  '11  obHge  yr 
most  obed*  hum^®  servt 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev"  D"  Bearcroft 
at  the  Charter-house. 

Newbury  N.  England.  Sept.  29'"  1762. 
Rev^  Dr,  —  I  must  beg  leave  to  remind  the  Rev** 
and  Hon*^  Society  of  the  request  lately  sent  them  from 
the  Amsbury  people,  praying  them  to  let  said  people 
know  their  determination  as  soon  as  they  conveniently 
can.  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  five  Infants,  whites. 
I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  Salary  which  please 
to  order  paid,  and  you'll  oblige  yr  most  obed*  hum'® 
Servt 

Edward  Bass. 
To  the  Rev"  Dr  Burton. 


[Extract  from  Society's  Journal.] 

19  Nov^'  1762.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Inhabit- 
ants of  Amesbury  in  New  England,  dated  Amesbury 
May  28 :  1762.  Representing  that  there  have  been 
Professors  of  the  Church  of  Ena;land  among;  them  more 
than  20  or  30  Years ;  that  a  Church  was  built  there 


EAKLT  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  69 

many  Years  ago ;  and  as  their  Numbers  are  consider- 
ably increased,  they  have  lately  built  another  Church 
more  convenient,  named  King  George  the  third's 
Chapel ;  and  being  earnestly  desirous  of  the  publick 
Worship  of  God  and  Administration  of  the  Sacraments 
according  to  the  Church  of  England,  for  the  benefit  of 
their  Families,  who  have  never  yet  enjoyed  them,  and 
of  themselves  who  do  sometimes  enjoy  them  by  travel- 
ling a  great  way  and  over  a  River,  which  makes  it  very 
difficult,  and  a  great  part  of  the  Year  impracticable  to 
get  to  Church,  they  earnestly  desii'e  to  have  a  Minister 
among  them.  They  have  in  view  a  young  Gentleman 
educated  in  their  College  who  is  of  a  good  Family  and 
can  be  well  recommended,  whom  they  beg  leave  to  send 
over  for  holy  Orders,  unless  the  Society  think  more 
proper  to  send  them  one.  They  engage  to  build  their 
MissT  a  convenient  Dwelling  House,  and  provide  him 
a  Glebe,  and  to  pay  him  20  pounds  sterhng  "^  Ann 
and  hope  in  time  to  be  able  to  do  more,  as  there  is  a 
prospect  of  the  Church's  increasing  greatly.^ 

MR.  BASS  AND  MR.  BROWNE  TO  THE  SECRETARY. 

Newbury,  New  England,  22  Sep.  1762. 
Rev.  D^,  —  We  take  the  liberty  to  second  the  re- 
quest of  the  Amesbury  people,  who  are  begging  the 
Society's  Assistance  towards  the  support  of  a  Minister, 
&  to  recommend  them  as  proper  objects  of  Your  char- 
itable Notice.  Altho'  at  present  they  are  not  numerous, 
yet  divers  of  them  are  some  of  the  most  substantial  men 
of  the  Town ;   &  the   circumstances   of   the    adjacent 

^  Journal,  vol.  xv.  p.  276. 


70  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

places  render  it  more  than  probable  that  the  Church 
will  grow  very  fast  among  them,  and  that,  in  the  course 
of  a  few  Years,  they  will  be  a  large  and  flourishing 
Congregation ;  especially  as  at  this  time  there  is  a  Dis- 
senting Society  just  by  them,  which  is  very  likely  to  be 
dissolved,  thro'  enthusiasm,  &  the  more  sober  and  con- 
siderate of  them  will  take  refuge  in  the  Church.  Be- 
sides the  Petitioners  who  have  subscribed  their  names, 
there  are  many  Others,  both  in  Amesbury  and  the 
neighboring  places,  who  stand  ready  to  join  with  them 
in  case  of  a  favorable  Answer  from  the  Society. 
Your  most  obed*,  humble  servants, 

Edward  Bass, 
Arthur  Browne. 

[Extract  from  Society's  Journal.] 

19  Nov^'  1762.  Eead  A  joint  Letter  from  the 
Rev*^  M""  Arthur  Browne,  the  Society's  Miss'^  at  Ports- 
mouth in  New  Hampshire,  and  the  Rev**  M""  Bass 
Miss'^^  at  Newbury  in  New  England,  dated  the  22**  of 
September  1762.  seconding  the  Request  of  the  Peo- 
ple of  Amesbury,  and  recommending  them  as  proper 
objects  of  the  Society's  charitable  Notice,  as  theirs  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  adjacent  Places  render  it  more 
than  probable  that  the  Church  will  grow  very  fast  among 
them,  and  produce  in  a  few  Years  a  large  and  flourish- 
ing Congregation. 

Agreed,  as  the  Opinion  of  the  Committee,  that  it 
is  not  convenient  to  establish  a  new  Mission  at  Ames- 
bury, but  that  some  neighbouring  Clergymen  be  desired 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  71 

to  officiate  there  occasionally,  as  often  as  they  can  con- 
sistently with  their  own  Duty. 

Resolved  to  agree  with  the  Committee.^ 


Newbury  N.  England,  March  25""  1763. 

Rev^  Dr,  —  I  have  received  the  Societys  Instruc- 
tions relating  to  the  Affair  of  Queen  Anne's  Chapel  in 
this  Town,  and  have  conformed  thereunto.  Although, 
as  I  perceive,  the  Rev*^  and  Hon*^  Society  do  not  think 
it  convenient  to  grant  the  Amsbury  people  a  Mission- 
ary at  present,  yet  if  they  should  think  proper  to  send 
them  a  few  small  books  and  pamphlets  tending  to  re- 
commend the  service  of  the  Church,  such  as  are  usually 
sent  by  the  Society,  I  am  perswaded  it  would  do  great 
service.  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  eight  Infants, 
whites.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  Salary, 
which  please  to  order  paid,  &  you  '11  oblige  yr  most 
obed*^  humble  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev"  Dr  Burton  —  Loudon. 

Newbury  N.  England,  Sept  29*  1763. 
Rev^  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  ten  infants ; 
and  have  also  performed  divine  service  and  preached 
twice  at  the  church  in  Amsbury,  as  the  Rev'^  Mr 
Browne  of  Portsmouth  has  done  once.  There  was  each 
time  a  large  and  attentive  congregation,  especially  at 
the  opening  of  the  Church,  when  two  or  three  of  the 
dissenting  teachers  were  present.  If  the  Rev*^  &  Hon*^ 
Society  should  think  fit  to  send  the  Amsbury  people 

^  Journal,  vol.  xv.  p.  277. 


72  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

some  proper  books  to  remove  their  objections  and  pre- 
judices against  the  Church  of  England,  I  am  perswaded 
it  would  tend  much  to  its  increase  in  that  place.  I 
have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  salary,  which  please 
to  order  paid,  and  you  '11  oblige  yr  most  obedt  hum^® 
servt 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev"  Dr  Bueton. 

Newbury  N.  England,  March  25"'  1764. 
Rev?  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  four  In- 
fants. The  Church  here  does  not  decrease,  nor  can  I 
say  that  it  increases  so  fast  as  it  could  be  wished. 
Methodism  prevails  much  among  us ;  more  I  believe, 
than  in  any  other  town  in  the  country.  That  enthu- 
siastick  spirit  is  lately  revived  to  an  uncommon  degree, 
and  appears  in  a  manner  almost  incredible,  religious 
meetings  are  frequent,  mostly  in  the  night,  at  which  y® 
people,  not  only  grown  persons  of  both  sexes,  but  even 
little  children,  cry  out,  utter  very  strange  (some  that 
have  been  present  say  blasphemous)  expressions,  and 
fall  into  raptures  and  trances.  None  of  my  church  are 
at  all  infected  with  these  things.  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  acquaint  you  that  the  Church  at  Amsbury  is  in  a 
very  good  way.  They  have  had  a  young  gentleman, 
who  is  designed  for  holy  orders,  reading  prayers  and 
sermons  to  them  for  two  or  three  months  past.  They 
duly  attend  the  Church  and  are  extreamly  desirous  of 
a  setled  Minister.  If  the  Society  should  think  fit  to 
send  some  proper  books  to  Amsbury  to  recommend  the 
Church  service,  and  three  or  four  dozen  of  common 
prayer  books  for  the  use  of  the  poorer  sort,  I  am  per- 


EARLY  MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  73 

swaded  it  would  tend  much  to  the  growth  of  the  Church 

in  that  place.     I  have   drawn   for  my  last  half  years 

Salary,  which  please  to  order  paid,  and  you  '11  oblige  yr 

most  obed'  hum'®  servt 

Edward  Bass. 
To  the  Rev?  Dk  Burton. 

Newbury  N.  England,  Sept  29'.''  1764. 

Rev?  Doctr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  ten 

Infants  &  have  also  received  the  pamphlets  for  the  Ams- 

bury   people,  who  are  greatly  obliged  to  the   Society 

for  this  kindness.     These  people  are  so  very  desirous  of 

having  a  Minister  setled  among  them,  that  they  lately 

did  all  that  lay  in  their  power  to  raise  a   Salary  of 

50  or  60  pounds  sterling  among  themselves,  but  could 

not  effect  it,  tho'  they  subscribed  hberally,  even  to  the 

very  extent  of  their  ability,  &  some  of  them,  I  believe, 

beyond    it.      I    have    drawn    for   my  last   half   years 

Salary,  which  please  to  order  paid,  &  you  '11  oblige  yr 

most  pbedt  hum'®  servt 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev?  Dr  Burton. 

Newbury  N.  England,  March  25*  1765. 
Rev?  Doctr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  four 
infants,  and  one  adult  person,  a  married  woman  who 
was  bred  among  the  Anabaptists.  She  is  a  sober  per- 
son, and  intends  to  communicate  with  us  the  first 
opportunity.  The  Amsbury  people  are  much  pleased 
with  the  pamphlets  sent  them  by  the  Society,  and  are 
very  thankful  for  them.  I  believe  they  will  have  a 
good  effect  not  only  upon  the  people  of  the  Church  in 
that  place,  but  upon  others  also.     They  are  now  ex- 


74  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

pecting  Mr.  Griffith,  a  clergyman  who  came  from 
England  about  half  a  year  ago,  and  hath  been  preach- 
ing at  Cambridge  the  most  of  the  time  he  hath  been 
in  the  Country,  to  come  and  officiate  in  their  Church 
a  little  while.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years 
Salary,  which  please  to  order  paid,  and  you  '11  oblige  yr 
most  obed*  serv* 

Edwabd  Bass. 
To  the  Rev^  Dr  Burton. 

Newbury  port  New  England,  Sept.  29'!'  1765. 

Rev^  Dk,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  sixteen 
infants  and  two  adult  persons.  I  have  also  within  the 
last  half  year  preached  two  Sundays  at  Amsbury  to 
very  large  congregations,  (I  am  perswaded  that  on  one 
of  the  Sundays  there  were  not  many  less  than  five 
hundred  persons)  and  administered  the  sacrament  to 
four  or  five  and  twenty  communicants  each  time.  I 
beg  leave  once  more  to  recommend  these  people  to  the 
Society's  charitable  notice,  as  soon  as  it  shall  be  able  to 
do  any  thing  for  them.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half 
years  salary,  which  please  to  order  paid,  &  you  '11  oblige 
yr  most  obed*  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev"!  Dr  Burton. 

Newbuhy  port  N.  England,  March  25'.''  1766. 
Rev?  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  eight 
infants  ;  also  a  master  of  a  family  with  his  children, 
five  in  number,  all  grown  up.  Having  nothing  new  or 
uncommon  to  write  pertaining  to  religion,  or  to  my 
Church,  I  have  only  to  tell  you  that  I  have  drawn  for 


EARLY   MINISTRY  OF  EDWARD  BASS.  75 

my  last  half  years  salary,  which  please  to  order  paid, 
and  you  '11  oblige  yr  most  obed*  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev?  Dr  Burton. 
N.  B.     port  is  lately  added  to  the  name  of  my  town. 

Newbury  Port  N.  England  Sept  29'!'  1766 

Eev^  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  six 
infants.  I  have  nothing  new  to  write  pertaining  to  re- 
Hgion,  save  that  the  principles  of  the  Anabaptists  begin 
to  get  footing  in  this  part  of  the  country,  for  which 
reason  some  such  books  as  the  Society  shall  think  a 
proper  antidote  against  them  would  be  a  very  acceptable 
present,  and  would,  I  am  perswaded,  do  much  good 
among  the  people.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half 
years  salary,  which  please  to  order  paid,  and  you'll 
oblige  your  most  obed*  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Revd  Dr  Burton. 

Newbury  Port  N,  England,  March  25'."  1767. 
Rev?  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  eleven 
Infants.  My  church  here  increases,  though  but  mod- 
erately. The  Church  in  Amsbury,  which  is  also  under 
my  care,  would  grow  very  fast,  were  it  supplied  with 
a  clergyman.  I  must  beg  of  the  Society  two  or  three 
dozen  of  common  prayer  books  for  the  poorer  sort  of 
people  there,  also  some  proper  Tracts  against  the  Ana- 
baptists, who  begin  to  get  footing  around  them.  I 
have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  salary,  which  please 
to  order  paid,  and  you  '11  oblige 

Yr  most  obed*  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Rev"  Dr  Burton. 


76  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Newbury  Port  N.  Ekgland,  Sept  29*  1767. 
Rev°  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  nine 
children  in  my  own  church,  and  four  in  the  Church  at 
Amsbury,  the  last  Sunday  of  the  last  month,  when  I 
performed  divine  service  and  preached  there  to  a  very 
large  number  of  people,  many  of  whom  are  very 
desirous  of  having  a  clergyman  setled  among  them, 
but  are  at  present  unable  to  support  the  charge.  I 
return  the  Society  thanks  for  Dr.  Wall's  history  of 
Infant  baptism,  and  the  small  Tracts  to  the  same  pur- 
pose. Some  of  these  latter  I  have  distributed,  and 
shall  do  the  same  with  those  I  have  still  in  my  hands, 
as  occasion  shall  offer.  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half 
years  salary,  which  please  to  order  to  be  paid,  and 
you  '11  oblige  your  most  obed*  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  the  Kev"  Dr  Burton. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CONTROVERSIES    AND    STRUGGLE    FOR    A    BISHOP. 

In  1763,  the  peaceful  attitude  toward  the  Episcopa- 
Hans  in  Massachusetts,  on  the  part  of  the  ministers  and 
people,  suffered  a  rude  disturbance  at  the  hands  of  one 
of  the  most  violent  controversialists  in  the  common- 
wealth. Dr.  Jonathan  Mayhew,  the  classmate  of  Bass 
in  college  days,  and  at  this  time  minister  of  the  West 
Church  in  Boston,  was  a  strong  preacher,  a  liberal 
thinker,  and  a  man  who  seemed  never  happy  unless  he 
was  in  the  midst  of  a  fight.  His  hatred  of  the  English 
government  was  aroused  before  the  other  colonists  had 
suspected  that  there  might  be  trouble  ahead  ;  and  his 
dissatisfaction  with  the  traditional  theology  of  his 
college  and  his  brother  ministers  led  him  to  advocate 
many  of  the  views  which  afterwards  gave  rise  to  Uni- 
tarianism.  From  both  political  and  religious  motives 
Dr.  Mayhew  was  ready  to  use  his  wit  and  trenchant 
style  against  that  church  which  was  the  representative 
of  ideas  that  were  abhorrent  to  him.  He  could  not 
think  of  the  Episcopalians  otherwise  than  as  emissa- 
ries of  the  British  government.  When  the  churches 
grew,  it  seemed  to  him  that  the  liberties  of  the  people 
were  in  danger. 

The  occasion  for  the  beginning  of  the  attack  was 
the  death  of  one  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Venerable 


78  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Society,  —  the  Rev.  Mr.  Miller,  of  Scituate.  This 
newspaper  outburst  against  Mr.  Miller  and  the  society 
appeared  in  one  of  the  Boston  papers,  and  was  said  to 
have  been  written  by  Dr.  Mayhew.  It  was  of  such  a 
violent  nature  that  the  Kev.  East  Apthorp,  rector  of 
Christ  Church,  Cambridge,  felt  called  upon  to  write  an 
answer,  which  he  did  in  a  pamphlet  on  the  "  Institution 
and  Conduct  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  Mr.  Apthorp,  as  a  man  of 
culture  and  abiHty,  defended  the  motives  of  the  society 
in  sending  missionaries  to  America,  and  spoke  with 
some  dignity  of  the  position  of  the  Episcopal  churches 
in  Massachusetts.  Dr.  Mayhew  seized  his  chance,  and 
wrote  a  very  lengthy  reply  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
six  pages,  in  which  he  arraigned  the  society,  the  church, 
the  ministers,  the  bishops,  and  indeed  everything  con- 
cerning their  practices  and  worship.  He  tried  to  show 
that  the  society  was  false  to  its  original  intention  of 
sending  preachers  to  the  Indians,  by  the  fact  that  it 
supported  clergymen  in  settled  New  England  towns 
already  supplied  with  ministers.  He  had  no  objection 
to  the  conversion  of  savages  who  might  become  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England,  but  "  the  Episcopizing 
of  the  descendants  of  the  Puritans  "  was  a  process  that 
he  could  not  stand  ;  especially  when  he  thought  of 
churchmen  being  appointed  to  the  lucrative  offices  of 
the  colony.  A  characteristic  passage  from  Dr.  May- 
hew's  attack  will  make  this  plain  :  — 

"  When  we  consider  her  enormous  hierarchy  ascend- 
ins"  from  the  dirt  to  the  skies ;  when  we  consider  the 
visible  effects  of   that   church  prevailing   among   us; 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.       79 

when  we  consider  the  narrow,  censorious,  and  bitter 
spirit  that  now  prevails  in  many  of  the  Episcopahans 
among  us,  and  what  would  be  the  sad  consequence  if 
this  party  should  once  get  the  ascendency  here,  and 
a  major  vote  in  our  house  of  assembly  —  in  which 
case,  the  Church  of  England  might  become  established 
here,  tests  be  ordained,  as  in  England,  to  exclude  all 
but  conformists  from  posts  of  honor  and  emolument, 
and  all  of  us  be  taxed  for  the  support  of  bishops  and 
underlings,  —  when  we  consider  these  things  we  cannot 
well  think  of  that  church's  gaining  ground  here  to 
any  extent,  and  especially  of  seeing  bishops  fixed  among 
us  without  much  concern."  ^ 

The  attack  of  Dr.  Mayhew  was  sarcastic,  violent,  per- 
sonal, and,  in  some  instances,  vituperative.  Every 
argument  that  had  appeared  against  the  Church  of 
England  since  the  rise  of  Puritanism  was  reiterated :  its 
doctrines  were  ridiculed ;  its  system  was  condemned  ; 
its  motives  impugned  ;  and  to  make  the  case  stronger, 
the  struggling  missions  of  the  English  Church  in 
America  were  described  as  dangerous  hot-beds  of  a 
tyranny  that  was  seeking  to  undermine  the  exist- 
ing religious  institutions  and  enslave  the  colonies  by 
forging  new  political  chains.  The  supposed  secret 
attempt  to  send  a  bishop  to  New  England,  which  was 
continually  used  as  political  war-cry,  was  turned  against 
Mr.  Apthorp  with  a  personal  apphcation.  Referring  to 
Mr.  Apthorp's  attractive  residence  in  Cambridge,  Dr. 
Mayhew  insinuated  that  "  It  is  supposed  that  a  certain 
superb    edifice   in    a   neighboring   town  was  designed 

1  Bradford's  Life  of  Mayhew, -p.  258. 


80  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

from  its  foundation  for  a  palace  of  one  of  the  humble 
successors  of  the  apostles."  ^  This  insinuation  was 
more  clearly  put  in  a  poetical  quotation:  — 

"  His  reverend  mind 
Begins  to  grow  right-reverendly  inclined."  * 

Such  a  vehement  attack  as  this  opened  the  way  for 
a  prolonged  controversy,  in  which  pamphlets  appeared 
first  on  one  side,  then  on  the  other.  The  Rev.  Arthur 
Browne,  of  New  Hampshire,  entered  the  Msts  with 
"  Remarks  on  Dr.  Mayhew,"  and  Dr.  Caner,  of  King's 
Chapel,  Boston,  defended  his  church  by  writing  "  A 
Candid  Examination."  There  were  anonymous  pam- 
phlets, one  containing  verses  by  *^  A  Gentleman  of 
Rhode  Island  Colony,"  and  further  contributions  from 
both  Dr.  Mayhew  and  the  Rev.  East  Apthorp.  The 
debate  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  Dr.  Seeker,  who,  as  his  opponents  ad- 
mitted, wrote  the  most  important  and  wise  paper  of  the 
whole  series.^ 

After  an  extended  review  of  the  aims  of  the  Ven- 
erable Society  and  a  candid  statement  of  the  motives 
of  the  English  Church  in  establishing  its  missions, 
Dr.  Seeker  proceeded  to  combat  the  sweeping  charges 
against  both.  Though  temperate  in  the  main,  the 
archbishop  could  not  resist  a  little  sarcasm  at  the 
expense  of  his  antagonist,  whose  performance  he 
referred  to  in  one  place  as  "  so  pathetic  a  rant  on  so 

1  Bradford's  Life  of  Mayhew,  p.  266. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  267. 

^  Thomas  Seeker,  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  An  Answer  to  Dr. 
Mayhew's  Observations,  London,  1764. 


CONTROVERSIES  AND   STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.       81 

darling  a  subject."  As  to  a  certain  matter  of  fact,  he 
succinctly  corrected  a  false  impression,  by  remarking  on 
the  epithet  used  by  Dr.  Mayhew,  "  The  mitred  lordly 
successors  of  the  fishermen  of  Galilee,"  —  "  they  have 
none."  In  admittino-  that  the  Church  of  Enofland  had 
been  guilty  of  persecution,  he  neatly  turned  the 
admission  on  Dr.  Mayhew  thus :  "  The  Church  of 
England  was  but  like  others ;  and  the  dissenters  from 
it  had  not  the  least  degree  more  of  a  tolerating  spirit, 
perhaps  not  so  much."  ^  The  archbishop  fortified  his 
position  by  a  reference  to  the  platform  of  Disciphne 
agreed  upon  in  Cambridge,  1648,  when  over  eighty 
heretical  opinions  were  proscribed.  The  pith  of  the 
answer,  however,  was  contained  in  the  account  of  the 
actual  pohcy  of  the  society  in  granting  missionaries  to 
New  England  towns  only  when  there  was  a  suf&cient 
number  who  could  not  "in  conscience  comply  with  the 
worship  and  instruction  of  the  other  congregations  in 
their  neighborhood,"  the  clergy  being  "  settled  nowhere 
until  a  competent  number  of  our  people  inhabiting 
near  request  it."  ^  The  case  of  Amesbury  referred  to 
in  the  previous  letters  of  Bass  is  an  evidence  that  even 
after  there  were  many  worshipers  of  the  English  Church 
in  a  town,  no  missionary  was  sent  to  them,  much  to 
their  disappointment. 

After  this  Apthorp-Mayhew-Secker  controversy  had 
attracted  general  attention,  it  was  impossible  for  the 
kindness  and  tolerance,  which  for  a  time  had  existed 
between  churchman  and  dissenter,  to  continue.  A 
battle  royal  had  begun,  and  this  was  made  fiercer  by 

1  Seeker's  Works,  vol.  vi.  p.  422,  2  /jj^;.,  p.  429. 


82  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  mischievous  assertions  of  some  on  each  side,  not- 
ably, by  the  Bishop  of  Llandaff  on  the  one  hand, 
and  Governor  Livingston,  of  New  York,  on  the  other. 
Political  events  were  also  not  of  a  nature  to  pacify  the 
contestants.  The  Stamp  Act  was  not  far  off.  Every 
unwise  move  on  the  part  of  the  British  government 
was  visited  on  the  heads  of  the  Episcopalians.  Pam- 
phlets and  books,  attacking  the  English  Church  in  every 
possible  way,  succeeded  one  another  with  such  rapidity 
that  no  answer  could  be  written  to  them.  Dr.  Caner 
helplessly  wi-ote  to  the  archbishop  in  a  strain  that  has 
a  decided  pathos  about  it  for  one  who  can  look  at  the 
situation  without  prejudice  :  "  Your  Grace  will  not  ask 
why  we  take  no  measures  to  oppose  these  proceedings ; 
for  besides  what  I  hinted  before  the  reasons  are  too 
obvious,  —  we  are  a  Rope  of  Sand ;  there  is  no  union, 
no  authority  among  us ;  we  cannot  even  summon  a 
convention  for  united  Counsell  and  advice  while  the 
Dissenting  ministers  have  their  Conventions  to  advise, 
assist  and  support  each  other  in  any  measures  which 
they  shall  think  proper  to  enter  into."  ^ 

Bass  felt  the  seriousness  of  these  attacks,  for  they 
interfered  with  his  ministerial  work  in  Newburyport. 
In  despair  he  wrote  to  the  secretary,  asking  for  appro- 
priate books,  the  circulation  of  which  might  correct  the 
misapprehension  about  the  church  :  — 

"  The  enemies  of  the  Church  of  England  are  doing 
their  utmost  to  prejudice  the  people  in  these  parts 
against  Bishops  and  the  church ;  for  this  purpose  they 
are  not  only  daily  publishing  their  invectives  in  the 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  490. 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.       83 

newspapers,  but  have  taken  the  pains  to  reprint  De- 
laune's  plea  &  the  Dissenting  Gentleman's  answer  to 
the  Rev'*  M"  White's  Letters.  These  being  popular 
books,  I  beg  of  the  Society  to  send  me  some  o£  the 
answers  that  have  been  written  to  them,  in  order  to 
obviate  the  ill  influence  they  may  otherwise  have  among 
weak  and  unstable  people." 

That  the  society  answered  his  request  favorably  is 
proved  by  the  following  records  taken  from  the 
Journal :  — 

"  A  Letter  from  the  Rev**  M'  Bass,  Miss^^  at  Newbury 
Port  Sepf  29,  1766.  .  .  .  Agreed  to  recommend  to  the 
Society  to  send  M""  Bass  one  Copy  of  Wall's  History  of 
Infant  Baptism,  50  Copies  of  his  Conference  on  Infant 
Baptism,  &  25  of  B^  Bradford  on  Baptismal  &  Spirit- 
ual Regeneration."  ^ 

Also,  at  another  time,  it  is  stated :  "  He  [Bass] 
renews  his  request  for  a  number  of  Hart's  answer  to 
Delaune  and  of  some  proper  answer  to  the  Dissenting 
Gentleman,  which  wiU  be  of  peculiar  service  to  him  at 
this  time."  ^ 

The  literature  of  opposition,  besides  containing  such 
books  written  in  New  England  as  Dr.  Charles  Chauncy's 
"  A  Compleat  View  of  Episcopacy,"  "  managed  as  that 
it  may  be  readily  understood  by  vulgar  capacities,"  ^ 
included  reprints  of  offensive  books  originally  published 
in  England  many  years  before.  Bass  refers  to  two  of 
these    reprints   in   his  letter :    "A  Plea  for  the  Non- 

^  Journal,  vol.  xvii.  p.  193. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  xix.  p.  431,  432. 

*  Boston  Weekly  News-Letter,  September  22,  1768. 


84  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Conformists  "  by  Thomas  De  Laune,  and  "  A  Dissent 
from  the  Church  of  England  Fully  Justified,  Being  the 
Dissenting  Gentleman's  Three  Letters  in  answer  to  Mr. 
John  White's  on  that  Subject." 

Thomas  De  Laune,  a  poor  schoolmaster,  had  written 
his  book  as  far  back  as  1683,  in  answer  to  Dr.  Benja- 
min Calamy's  sermon,  "  A  Scrupulous  Conscience  ;  " 
and  for  his  pains  was  sent  to  Newgate  Prison  and 
fined  one  hundred  marks,  the  copies  of  his  book  being 
burned  before  the  Royal  Exchange  in  London.  His 
wife  and  two  small  children  were  with  him  in  prison, 
where  they  "  dy'd  by  Lingering  Sorrow,  and  Sickness." 
The  pathetic  incidents  of  De  Laune's  imprisonment 
gave  a  double  interest  to  his  book,  which  was  in  the 
usual  violent  style  of  the  controversial  tracts  of  the 
period.  His  experience  certainly  justified  the  accusa- 
tion against  his  enemies,  that  "  to  dispute  by  the  Goal 
and  the  Hang-man,  to  debate  by  the  Prison  and  not  by 
the  Pen  ;  these  have  been  Peculiar  of  the  Party."  ^ 
Dr.  Calamy  contended  that  the  dissenters  were  too 
scrupidous  about  not  accepting  many  minor  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  the  English  Church,  that  they  were 
"  things  indifferent,"  and  that  the  dissenters  "  fly  from 
them  as  they  would  from  a  Tyger  or  a  Bear,  and  avoid 
them  as  they  would  the  Plague  or  Poyson.  Just  thus 
do  some  men  run  out  of  Church  at  the  sight  of  a  sur- 
plice, as  if  they  had  been  scar'd  by  the  Apparition  of 
a  Ghost."  2 

But  De  Laune  answered  that,  though  these  simple 

1  De  Laune's  A  Plea  for  the  Non-Conformists,  Preface. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  12. 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.       85 

customs  may  be  spoken  of  as  indifferent,  as  small  as  a 
"  fly,"  yet  the  authorities  insist  on  "  knocking  the  Fly 
on  the  neio'hbor's  Head  with  a  Hatchet  to  the  knockino^ 
out  his  Brains,  destroying  them  in  their  liberties.  Es- 
tates, yea.  Lives  also,  which  surely  must  not  be  for 
Trifles,  but  necessary  Things."  ^ 

Bound  in  the  same  volume  with  "A  Plea"  was  an 
additional  pamphlet  called  "  The  Image  of  the  Beast," 
in  which  it  was  contended  that  the  Church  of  England 
was  like  the  Church  of  Rome.  A  comparison  between 
"  The  Dragonical  or  Pagan  Church,"  "  The  Beastly 
Papal  Church,"  and  "  The  Christian  Church  "  was  very 
fully  set  forth,  much  to  the  advantage  of  the  last 
named.  The  identity  between  the  Church  of  England 
and  that  of  Rome  was  proved  by  a  series  of  questions 
and  answers,  —  the  answers  supposed  to  be  made  by 
Engflish  churchmen :  — 

^'  Do  they  on  the  Rehearsal  of  the  Ten  Command- 
ments, kneel,  asking  mercy  and  Grace  after  every  com- 
mand ?     So  we. 

"Do  priest  and  people  read  the  Psalms  alternately 
Verse  by  Verse  ?     So  we. 

"  Do  they  sit  at  reading  the  Lessons  ?     So  we. 

"  Do  they  uncover  themselves  in  the  Churches  ? 
So  we."  ^ 

The  second  book  mentioned  by  Bass  was  written  in 
1748,  in  answer  to  one  by  the  Rev.  John  White,  B.  D., 
fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge.  It  was  in 
the  form  of  three  letters  written  to  a  "  Dissentingf 
Gentleman,"    urging    him    to    return    to    the    EngHsli 

^  De  Laune's  The  Image  of  the  Beast,  p.  15.  ^  Ihid.,  p.  48. 


86  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Church.  This  called  forth  the  book  in  question,  "  A 
Dissent  Fully  Justified,"  by  Micajah  Towgood,  in 
which  the  gentleman  launched  forth  vigorously  to 
assert  his  position  that  "  to  every  impartial  judge  our 
dissent  from  the  Church  of  England  will  appear  no- 
thing but  a  protest  which  we  pubhckly  make  against 
A  new  Edition  of  Christimiity  with  Corrections  and 
Amendments  which  our  brethren  of  the  Estabhshment 
have  taken  upon  them  to  set  forth."  ^ 

These  books  were  freely  circulated  in  Massachusetts, 
together  with  other  pamphlets,  hke  the  sarcastic  one, 
"  The  Keal  Advantages  which  Ministers  and  People 
may  enjoy  especially  in  the  Colonies  by  Conforming  to 
the  Church  of  England,"  and  "  A  Sure  Guide  to  Hell, 
In  Seven  Sections,"  by  Belzebub.  One  of  the  real 
advantages  was  that  "  the  god-fathers  and  god-mothers 
may  be  chosen  out  of  the  most  fashionable  families 
who  can  afford  to  dress  gayer  many  times  than  the 
parents  of  the  children.  Now  good  cloaths  adds  a 
great  deal  of  Splendor  to  plain  Christian  ordinances."  "^ 
Another  advantage  was  that  it  was  not  necessary  for  an 
offender  to  make  public  confession  in  the  meeting-house 
of  any  peccadillos  as  was  the  case  with  the  dissenters. 
"  You  have  observed,"  the  pamphleteer  states,  "  that 
the  Dissenters  have  a  discipline  that  is  very  shocking 
to  many  fine  gentlemen  and  ladies  too.  If  a  gentle- 
man drinks  a  little  too  freely  or  happens  to  love  a 
pretty  girl  somewhat  too  warmly  they  must  stand  in 
the   broad-alley   and   make   a   whining   confession."' 

1  Towgood's  A  Dissent  Fully  Justified,  p.  5. 

2  Real  Advantages,  p.  25.  ^  Ibid.,  p.  28. 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.     87 

Belzebub  addressed  the  bishops  thus :  "  You  Gentle- 
men of  the  Reverend  order  who  have  through  luck 
been  raised  to  Bishopricks,  etc.,  you  may  set  your  hearts 
at  ease,  look  big  and  bowl  along  in  your  coaches  ;  Your 
Dioceses  are  rich  Pastures  ;  but  let  your  Flocks  starve, 
both  soul  and  body,  rather  than  stir  one  Finger  to  help 
them."  ' 

It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  the  impression  made 
upon  the  minds  of  the  citizens  of  the  commonwealth 
by  the  constant  reading  of  the  books  which  have  been 
quoted  ;  and  these  being  enforced  by  sermons  from  the 
opposition  pulpits  add  to  the  wonder  that  the  Episcopal 
churches  continued  to  exist  at  all. 

The  clergy  and  the  missionaries,  however,  attended 
to  their  duties  in  their  parishes  as  patiently  and 
courageously  as  they  could  under  the  circumstances, 
but  they  felt  the  need  of  mutual  sympathy  and  counsel. 
This  need  naturally  led  them  to  seek  occasions  for 
periodical  conferences ;  and  when,  in  1765,  they  in  a 
body  attended  the  funeral  of  Dr.  Timothy  Cutler,  Rec- 
tor of  Christ  Church,  Boston,  they  agreed  to  have  an 
annual  convention,  "  to  promote  mutual  love  and  har- 
mony amongst  ourselves  and  to  assist  each  other  with 
advice  in  difficult  cases."  The  first  of  these  pre- 
revolutionary  conventions  ^  was  held  in  King's  Chapel, 
Boston,  in  the  early  part  of  June,  1766,  The  Rev. 
Mr.  McGilchrist,  of  Salem,  gives  an  account  of  this 
first  meeting.     He  says  :  "  We  met,  14  in  number,  and 

^  Belzebub,  A  Sure  Guide  to  Hell,  p.  44. 

2  Conventions  had  been  held  occasionally  before  this,  but  without  any 
regularity. 


88  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

made  sometliing  of  an  appearance  for  this  Country, 
when  we  walked  together  in  our  Gowns  and  Cassocks. 
D""  Caner  acquainted  us  that  our  Convention  was  ap- 
proved of  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  was  chosen  Moder- 
ator and  Secretary  &  gave  us  an  excellent  discourse  in 
Kings  Chapel,  and  we  were  honored  by  the  Governor's 
Company  at  Dinner.  As  this  Convention  will  make  us 
acquainted  together,  so  I  hope  its  like  to  be  of  service 
to  the  Church." 

These  conventions  were  well  attended,  not  only  by 
the  clergy  of  Massachusetts,  but  by  those  from  Rhode 
Island  and  New  Hampshire.  Though  territorially  scat- 
tered, the  missionaries  felt  that  they  belonged  to  the 
same  family ;  and  when  they  came  together  in  a  body 
on  these  special  occasions,  they  enjoyed  the  companion- 
ship of  their  brethren,  and  received  inspiration  from  the 
support  of  their  friends.  The  matters  they  discussed 
were  various  :  sometimes  the  condition  of  distant  mis- 
sion stations ;  sometimes  the  needs  of  their  own  parish 
churches ;  but  often  the  affairs  of  the  church  at  large 
in  its  relation  to  the  political  and  religious  events 
through  which  they  were  passing. 

Bass  seems  always  to  have  been  present  at  these 
annual  meetings,  joining  heartily  in  the  discussions  and 
wilhngly  signing  any  report  or  petition  that  may  have 
been  prepared.  At  the  very  important  convention  held 
in  Boston  on  June  17,  1767,  when  the  state  of  the 
churches  and  the  desire  for  a  bishop  were  communicated 
to  the  society  in  England,  Bass,  as  usual,  was  among  the 
signers.  This  document  is  of  such  importance  in  giv- 
ing an  insight  into  the  affairs  of  the  churches  in  the 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.     89 

commonwealth,  and  in  showing  the  difficulties  under 
which  they  labored,  that  it  will  be  of  interest  to  quote 
it  in  full :  — 

THE  CLERGY  OF  BOSTON,  ETC.  TO  THE  SECRETARY. 

Boston,  June  17,  1767. 

Kev.  Sir,  —  The  Clergy  of  this  and  the  neighboring 
Government  of  Rhode  Island,  both  Missionaries  and 
others,  being  now  together  at  their  annual  Convention, 
beg  leave  to  mention  to  the  Society  some  few  things 
relative  to  these  Churches.  In  general  the  Missions  of 
these  Governments  are  in  laudable  state,  but  we  are 
sorry  to  say  that  Christ  Church  in  Boston  is  still 
affected  &  suffers  greatly  by  the  divisions  that  prevail 
in  it. 

The  Church  at  Cambridge,  which  has  been  in  an  un- 
settled condition  ever  since  Mr.  Apthorp's  resignation, 
is  now  happily  supplied  by  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Sargent. 

At  Taunton  Mr.  Lyon  is  labouring  very  diligently  & 
not  without  good  success,  supported  only  with  the  small 
encouragement  of  £30  Sterling,  per  annum,  and  his 
Parsonage.  His  labors  are  likewise  extended  to  Bridge- 
water  the  distance  of  ten  miles,  and  sometimes  in  Mid- 
dleborough  about  15  miles.  The  Glebe  of  Taunton  may 
be  worth  about  £6  sterling  per  annum,  &  the  people 
have  lately  built  a  new  and  very  decent  Parsonage 
House,  and  in  other  respects  have  faithfully  exerted 
themselves  towards  Mr.  Lyon's  support.  We  cannot 
therefore  but  hope  the  Society  will  encourage  theii*  at- 
tachment &  his  industry  &  usefulness  by  making  some 
further  provision  for  his  subsistence. 


90  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

We  understand  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bailey  that  the  So- 
ciety have  agreed  to  establish  a  Mission  at  George  Town 
upon  Kennebeck  River  when  the  people  can  find  a  suit- 
able person  to  reconnnend  for  that  purpose.  They  con- 
ceive they  have  now  found  such  an  one  &  have  accord'^ 
recommended  Mr.  Willard  Wheeler  the  bearer  of  this, 
who  is  well  known  to  several  of  us,  and  deservedly 
bears  the  character  of  a  person  of  sound  morals  and 
good  principles,  firmly  attached  to  our  Government  and 
Constitution  both  in  Church  and  State,  and  from  whom 
we  conceive  the  Society  may  promise  themselves  a  faith- 
ful and  prudent  Missionary,  if  they  shall  think  pro2)er 
to  employ  him. 

It  is  however  a  great  discouragement  to  those  who 
would  offer  themselves  to  the  service  of  these  American 
churches  that  they  are  still  obliged  to  submit  to  the 
danger  and  expence  of  a  voyage  1000  leagues  long  to 
qualify  themselves  for  that  service. 

Since  the  first  Settlement  of  Christianity  so  large  a 
Continent  as  this  was  never  known  without  a  resident 
Bishop.  We  flattered  ourselves  that  such  an  extensive 
territory  as  was  heretofore  possessed  and  hath  since 
been  added  to  the  British  Dominions  by  the  last  war 
would  certainly  have  been  followed  by  some  provision 
of  this  kind,  but  especially  the  late  popular  tumults  in 
these  colonies  we  imagined  would  have  strongly  pointed 
out  the  necessity  of  such  a  step  towards  the  uniting  and 
attaching  the  colonies  to  the  mother  Country,  and  have 
silenced  every  objection  that  could  have  been  raised 
against  it. 

We  are  too  remote  and  inconsiderable  to  approach 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.     91 

the  Throne,  yet  coiild  her  Majesty  hear  the  voice  of 
so  distant  a  People,  the  request  for  American  Bishops 
would  appear  to  be  the  crye  of  many  thousands  of  Her 
most  faithful  subjects. 

We  do  however  think  ourselves  happy  in  this,  that 
the  Society  will  omit  no  favorable  opportunity  of  re- 
presenting the  advantages  that  may  accrue  to  these  Col- 
onies to  rehgion  and  to  the  British  Interest  by  conde- 
scending to  this  our  request. 

We  bless  God  for  the  great  and  good  effects  of  the 
Society's  care  and  attention  to  these  colonies  and  hope 
it  will  please  God  that  they  may  become  instrumental 
in  obtaining  this  further  invaluable  blessing  of  resident 
Bishops  for  America. 

We  are,  with  great  veneration, 

The  Society's  dutiful  and  obedient,  and.  Rev.  Sir, 
Your  most  humble  Servants, 
W.  Walter,  Jacob  Bailey, 

John  Lyon,  J.  Wingate  Weeks, 

W.  Serjeant,  H.  Caner, 

Jas.  Greaton,  Jno.  Usher, 

Edwd.  Bass,  Ebenr.  Thomson, 

Edwd.  Winslow,       Will  McGilchrist, 
S.  Fayerweather,     Jno.  Troutbeck. 

The  most  important  part  of  this  petition  is  the  oft- 
repeated  cry  sent  up  year  after  year  for  over  a  hundred 
and  fifty  years  for  the  appointment  of  an  American 
bishop.  "  The  invaluable  blessing  of  resident  Bishops 
for  America  "  had  been  the  subject  of  numerous  peti- 
tions from  the  struggling  Episcopalians  in  most  of  the 


92  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

colonies,  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  New  Jersey,  New 
York,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  and  Massachusetts, 
but  the  earnest  request  had  never  been  granted.  The 
refusal,  at  least  in  the  days  when  a  bishop  might  easily 
have  been  appointed,  is  a  sad  evidence  of  the  short- 
sighted and  time-serving  policy  of  the  English  Church 
and  government.  The  weak  and  scattered  churches 
throughout  America  -  were  left  to  themselves  without 
any  controlling  hand,  and  without  any  head  to  advise 
or  construct  any  consistent  policies.  The  fiction  that 
the  churches  were  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop 
of  London,  who  never  set  foot  within  his  pretended 
American  diocese,  was  in  many  cases  a  disastrous  make- 
shift, which  Bishop  Sherlock  was  frank  enough  to  admit, 
when  he  disclaimed  the  authority  which  had  become  a 
sort  of  pious  tradition.  Writing  to  Dr.  Doddridge,  on 
May  11,  1751,  Bishop  Sherlock,  speaking  of  his  juris- 
diction over  the  American  churches,  sensibly  remarked  : 
"  I  am  sure  that  the  case  is  improperly  lodged :  for  a 
Bishop  to  live  at  one  end  of  the  world  and  his  church 
at  another  must  make  the  of&ce  very  vmcomfortable  to 
the  Bishop  and  in  a  great  measure  useless  to  the 
people."  ^ 

Though  every  plan  for  sending  out  a  bishop  had 
failed,  the  Episcopalians  were  so  constantly  reminded 
of  the  need,  by  the  daily  limitations  forced  upon  their 
notice  at  every  turn,  that  they  continued  to  ask  for 
one,  both  in  private  letters  and  public  memorials.  The 
growth  of  the  churches  was  in  spite  of  this  drawback, 
which,  had  it  been  removed,  would  have  made  the  con- 

1  Hawkins,  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  391. 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.     93 

gregations  both  numerous  and  strong.  Since  the  office 
of  bishop  is  a  part  of  the  system,  its  absence  prevented 
many  young  men  in  the  colonial  colleges  from  seeking 
ordination,  the  journey  to  England  being  expensive 
and  dangerous.  Also,  it  was  not  possible  to  obtain 
confirmation ;  the  church  buildings  could  not  be  con- 
secrated, and  no  ecclesiastical  discipline  could  be  admin- 
istered, —  the  active  use  of  which  was  often  needed. 
Frequently  this  lack  of  discij)line  was  the  cause  of 
scandal,  for  clergymen  who  had  been  disgraced  in  Eng- 
land came  over  to  the  distant  colonies,  hoping  to  secure 
recognition.  The  churches  were  thus  easily  deceived, 
and  impostors  secured  a  footmg,  as  in  the  case  of  a  Mr. 
Griffith  in  Boston,  who  took  the  Letters  of  Orders  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Mieux,  and  erased  the  name,  putting  in  his 
own.  His  true  character  was  discovered  when  he 
turned  thief,  and  stole  from  his  parishioners  "silver 
spoons,  books,  rings,  a  Tweezer,  case  of  silver,  a  Girdle 
Buckle." ' 

The  churches  were  maimed  from  the  start ;  in  fact, 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  its  integrity  did  not  exist  in 
America  until  after  the  Revolution.  There  were  frag- 
ments of  it,  but,  as  in  the  case  of  a  delicate  machine,  it 
could  not  do  its  work  as  a  complete  thing  until  all  its 
parts  were  fitted  together.  This  imperfectly  formed 
organization  was  like  a  defective  organism,  struggling 
for  existence  among  strong  rivals  and  hostile  conditions. 
This  incompleteness  explains  the  weakness  of  the  colo- 
nial Episcopal  Church  and  the  unwisdom  of  some  of 
its  acts,  as  much  as  the  antagonism  of  its  foes. 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  519. 


94  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

No  persons  realized  this  defect  more  than  the  clergy 
in  America,  and  it  was  because  of  this  knowledge  that 
they  were  persistent  in  their  demands.  Had  the  same 
realization  been  so  keen  in  England,  a  way  would  have 
been  found  for  obviating  the  difficulty.  There  had 
been  men  in  England,  however,  who  occasionally,  and 
sometimes  with  a  good  deal  of  intelligent  interest,  had 
made  strenuous  efPorts  to  provide  a  bishop  for  the  colo- 
nies. The  story  of  such  attempts  is  suggestive  and  at 
times  romantic,  but  it  always  ends  in  a  record  of  failure. 
The  first  effort  was  made  not  very  wisely  by  Archbishop 
Laud  in  1638,  who  conceived  the  idea  of  sending  after 
the  exiled  Puritans  a  bishop  who  might  carry  out  a 
policy  which  could  hardly  be  called  successful  in  his 
own  land.  In  1713,  soon  after  the  establishment  of  the 
Venerable  Society,  a  plan  was  formed  to  provide  an 
Episcopate  for  America,  but  the  death  of  Queen  Anne, 
together  with  the  opposition  of  the  ministry,  frustrated 
the  design.  A  succession  of  similar  attempts  was  made, 
long  intervals  of  time  elapsing,  almost  up  to  the  Revolu- 
tion. Whenever  there  seemed  to  be  any  special  chance 
of  success,  the  New  England  clergy  always  made  their 
voices  heard  in  a  memorial  of  some  kind ;  in  1713,  a 
petition  was  sent  from  King's  Chapel ;  and  later,  in  an- 
swer to  the  requests  of  the  Massachusetts  churchmen, 
the  Rector  of  King's  Chapel,  Dr.  Price,  was  appointed 
commissary,  —  an  officer  whose  powers  were  vaguely 
defined  as  a  representative  of  the  Bishop  of  London. 
Again,  in  1750,  the  New  England  clergy  sent  "  Pro- 
posals relating  to  American  Bishops  "  which  attracted 
the  attention  of  Bishop  Butler.     But  after  all  these 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.     95 

protests  and  requests,  the  Massachusetts  clergy  were 
sending  again  in  1767  the  above  petition,  which  of 
course  could  not  have  been  granted  at  the  time  when 
events  were  hastening  on  toward  the  Revolution,  which 
Bass  and  his  brethren  dimly  foresaw. 

There  are  many  reasons  that  may  be  assigned  for 
this  failure  on  the  part  of  the  English  Church.  The 
two  principal  ones  are  indiiference  in  England,  and  the 
opposition  of  the  Puritans,  both  in  England  and  Amer- 
ica. Hawkins,  in  his  "  Missions  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land," put  the  matter  in  a  nutshell  when  he  says,  "  The 
truth  is  that  while  the  dissenters  in  the  colonies  and 
at  home  were  united  in  opposition  to  the  measure,  the 
mass  of  English  Churchmen,  ignorant  and  indifferent, 
gave  themselves  no  trouble  about  it."  ^  The  same  truth 
is  confessed  by  Archbishop  Seeker,  in  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Caner,  when  he  wrote  that  "  little  hath  been  said  on  the 
subject  of  Bishops  to  the  Kings  Ministers  and  less  by 
them.  The  Dissenters  indeed  give  out  that  we  are  very 
busy  upon  it  and  have  made  a  great  progress,  and  thus 
they  endeavor  to  raise  an  alarm."  ^  There  was  certainly 
an  "  alarm  "  among  the  people  of  Massachusetts,  and  it 
was  increased  at  every  opportunity,  either  by  those  who 
were  actuated  by  genuine  fear,  or  by  the  politicians  who 
aimed  to  stu*  up  the  colonists  by  a  popular  battle-cry. 

In  trying  to  understand  the  fear  that  many  of  the 
people  in  Massachusetts  had  on  account  of  the  Epis- 
copal Churches  among  them,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  these  missions  represented  a  church  which   was 

^  Hawkins,   Missions,  p.  391. 

2  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  495. 


96  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

established  by  law  in  England,  which  had  used  its 
power,  often  with  violence, — the  bishops  of  which 
were  functionaries  of  the  State,  with  palaces,  retinues, 
and  large  emoluments,  increased  by  taxation.  If  the 
Episcopal  Churches  had  been  spiritual  organizations 
solely,  there  might  have  been  opposition  to  their 
methods  on  the  part  of  individuals,  but  there  never 
would  have  been  the  same  general  antagonism.  When 
a  sense  of  injustice  grew  among  the  people  at  the 
acts  of  the  British  government,  and  active  means  were 
taken  to  thwart  its  decrees,  the  churches  which  were 
associated  with  the  government  came  in  for  their 
share  of  distrust.  It  could  not  have  been  otherwise. 
The  missions  in  America  were  the  victims  of  unfortu- 
nate pohtical  conditions.  It  was  their  parentage,  not 
their  own  act,  which  was  condemned.  While,  on  the 
one  side,  the  missionaries  were  asking  for  a  bishop  to 
complete  their  organization,  and  to  enable  them  to  do 
their  work  of  preaching  and  ministering  to  their  con- 
gregations more  effectively,  and  thinking  of  the  spirit- 
ual interests  of  their  parishioners  ;  on  the  other  side, 
the  Puritans  overlooked  this  religious  intention,  and 
saw  only  the  possibility  of  having  among  them  an 
additional  English  official,  whose  revenues  might  be 
raised  by  a  new  taxation.  The  point  of  view  was  so 
different  in  the  minds  of  those  on  each  side  that 
neither  could  appreciate  the  position  of  the  other. 
Samuel  Adams,  in  his  letter  to  the  London  agent  of 
the  Assembly,  Dennys  Deberdt,  wrote  in  1768,  refer- 
ring to  an  American  bishop,  that  the  Assembly  "  hopes 
in  God  such  an  establishment  will  never  take  place  in 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISHOP.     97 

America.  .  .  .  The  revenue  raised  in  America  for 
aught  we  can  tell  may  be  as  constitutionally  appUed 
towards  the  support  of  prelacy  as  of  soldiers  and 
pensioners."  ^  That  this  sentiment  was  general  is  indi- 
cated in  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  McGilchrist,  where  he 
described  certain  discussions  in  the  General  Coui't  by 
saying  that  "  They  maintained  that  Spiritual  courts 
with  such  jurisdiction  as  they  have  in  England  would 
necessarily  follow  them  and  that  their  maintenance 
would  be  raised  by  a  tax  upon  America."  ^  This  belief 
was  doubtless  in  the  minds  of  those  who  in  1772  voted, 
"  We  think  therefore  that  every  design  for  estabhsh- 
ing  ...  a  bishop  in  this  province  is  a  design  both 
against  our  civil  and  rehgious  rights."  ^ 

While  there  were  many  who  honestly  feared  all  these 
dire  results  from  the  appointment  of  a  bishop,  it  cannot 
be  denied  that  there  were  leaders  who  knew  the  harm- 
less nature  of  the  plan  for  a  bishop  which  had  been 
outHned  by  Bishop  Butler  as  far  back  as  1750.  The 
suspicion  is  therefore  aroused  that  the  leaders  made 
just  as  much  as  they  could,  for  political  purposes,  out 
of  the  unthinking  timidity  of  the  multitude.  This 
suspicion  is  confirmed  when  one  finds  Elbridge  Gerry 
writing  to  Samuel  Adams  from  Marblehead,  on  Novem- 
ber 10,  1772,  that  "  I  should  have  been  glad  had  the 
word  Christian  in  your  resolutions  been  omitted  [mean- 
ing the  town-meeting  resolutions  of  Boston]  that  the 
Clergy  may  be  engaged  in  our  cause,  and  open  the  eyes 

'  Hosmer's  Life  of  Thomas  Hutchinson,  p.  130. 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  519. 

^  Votes  and  Proceedings  of  Boston,  November  20,  1772. 


98  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

of  the  people  to  oppression.  It  may  7iot  he  amiss  to 
hit  at  the  church  innovations  and  the  establishment 
of  those  tyrants  in  religion  —  Bishops.''  ^  Samuel 
Adams  answered  from  Boston  in  a  few  days,  showing 
that  he  understood  perfectly  "  the  scheme,"  and  had 
wisely  provided  that  this  perennial  grievance  should  be 
aired,  thus  laying  to  rest  Gerry's  apprehensions  that 
so  important  a  subject  should  have  been  allowed  to 
slumber,  in  these  words  :  "I  am  sorry  when  any  of  our 
proceedings  are  not  exactly  according  to  your  mind ; 
the  word  you  object  to  in  our  resolves  was  designed 
to  introduce  into  our  state  of  grievances  the  church 
innovations  and  the  establishment  of  those  tyrants, 
Bishops."  ^ 

It  is  impossible,  here,  to  go  into  the  question  of  how 
much  of  a  factor,  in  bringing  about  the  Revolution, 
was  the  opposition  to  bishops.  There  were  so  many 
larger  and  more  vital  questions  shaping  the  progress  of 
events  that  any  attempt  to  raise  this  one  into  the  first 
rank  of  determining  causes  must  be  an  exaggeration  ; 
that  it  had  an  influence  no  one  doubts,  but  the  most 
interesting  point  in  the  whole  matter  is  to  discover 
whether  the  fears  of  the  colonists  were  well  founded, 
and  whether  there  was  ever  any  danger,  such  as  was 
imagined,  of  a  bishop  similar  to  those  in  England 
being  sent  to  America.  The  evidence  goes  to  prove 
that  the  type  of  bishop  proposed  was  different  from 
the  bishops  in  England,  and  that  at  no  time,  at  least 
after  1750,  was  there  any  plan  of  raising  the  bishop's 
salary  by  taxing  the  colonists.     The  idea  was  to  collect 

1  Updike's  Narragansett  Church,  p.  241.  ^  /jj^^,^  p,  241. 


CONTROVERSIES  AND  STRUGGLES  FOR  A  BISIIOr.     99 

funds  for  this  object  in  the  same  way  that  the  stipends  of 
the  missionaries  were  provided,  —  by  gifts  and  lega- 
cies. The  society  in  1710,  with  its  own  money,  went 
so  far  as  to  purchase  for  a  proposed  bishop  a  house  in 
Burlington,  New  Jersey  ;  and  Archbishop  Tenison  be- 
queathed by  will  in  1715  the  sum  of  £1000  towards 
the  appointment  of  a  bishop  for  America.^  No  fuller 
statement  of  the  powers  of  the  proposed  bishop  can  be 
made  than  the  wise  outline  made  by  Bishop  Butler  in 
1750,  the  principles  of  which  were  the  guide  for  all 
the  succeeding  deliberations  on  the  subject  by  the 
English  Church :  — 

"  1.  That  no  coercive  power  is  desired  over  the  laity 
in  any  case,  but  only  a  power  to  regulate  the  behaviour 
of  the  clergy  who  are  in  Episcopal  orders,  and  to 
correct  and  punish  them  according  to  the  laws  of  the 
Church  of  England,  in  case  of  misbehaviour  or  neglect 
of  duty,  with  such  power  as  the  commissaries  abroad 
have  exercised. 

"  2.  That  nothing  is  desired  for  such  bishops  that 
may  in  the  least  interfere  with  the  dignity,  or  authority, 
or  interest  of  the  Governor,  or  any  other  officer  of 
State  :  Probates  of  wills,  license  for  marriage,  etc.,  to 
be  left  in  the  hands  where  they  are ;  and  no  share  in 
the  temporal  government  is  desired  for  bishops. 

"  3.  The  maintenance  of  such  bishops  not  to  be  at 
the  charge  of  the  colonies. 

"  4.  No  bishops  are  intended  to  be  settled  in  places 
where  the  government  is  left  in  the  hands  of  dissenters 
as  in  New  England,  etc.,  but  authority  to  be  given  only 

^  Hawkins,  Missions  of  Church  of  England,  p.  383. 


100  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

to  ordain  clergy  for  such  Churcli  of  England  congre- 
gations as  are  among  them,  and  to  inspect  into  the 
manners  and  behaviour  of  the  said  Clergy,  and  to 
confirm  the  members  thereof."  ^ 

When  the  New  England  clergy  tried  to  make  this 
plan  clear  to  the  people,  they  were  either  distrusted,  or 
the  English  idea  of  a  bishop  was  so  firmly  fixed  in 
their  minds  that  they  could  not  forget  it ;  at  any  rate, 
they  did  not  abate  their  opposition.  The  strained 
relations  just  before  the  outbreak  of  hostilities,  even  in 
1768,  were  too  great,  and  no  proposition  would  have 
been  given  a  hearing.  Bishop  Butler's  idea  was  an- 
swered like  this :  '^  You  will  see  how  we  are  cajoled. 
A  colony  bishop  is  to  be  a  more  innocent  creature  than 
ever  a  bishop  was,  since  diocesan  bishops  were  intro- 
duced to  lord  it  over  God's  heritage.  .  .  .  The  arrival 
of  a  bishop  would  raise  them  (the  people)  as  much  as 
any  one  thing.  ...  I  may  be  mistaken,  but  I  am 
persuaded  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
colonies  will  never  be  amicably  settled."  ^ 

Bass  and  his  friends  had  to  wait  until  the  dispute 
had  been  settled  by  war  before  they  could  have  their 
bishop;  and  when  the  time  came  for  the  election  of 
one  there  was  no  opposition,  because  it  was  not  the 
spiritual  idea  of  a  bishop  that  was  obnoxious,  but  "  my 
Lord  Bishop  "  with  civil  power. 

^  Perry's  American  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  i.  p.  408. 
^  Eliot  to  HoUis,  January  5,  1768,  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  4th  series,  iv. 
p.  422. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  STATE  OF  THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 

The  Eno-lish  churches  in  Massachusetts  durlncr  the 
decade  preceding  the  Revohition  were  by  no  means  so 
weak  as  might  be  imagined.  For  many  years  the 
parishes  had  been  growing  in  numbers  and  influence ; 
and  in  the  communities  where  their  work  was  done  there 
are  records  that  indicate  a  good  measure  of  spiritual 
life.  Though  sorely  tried  and  often  unjustly  accused, 
ministers  and  people  performed  their  duties  in  "  a 
spirit  of  peace  and  patience."  The  following  message, 
sent  from  New  England  to  the  church  in  the  mother 
country,  gives  an  insight  into  their  troubles,  and  the 
way  in  which  they  sought  to  bear  them  :  — 

THE   CLERGY   IN   CONVENTION   TO   THE   SECRETARY. 
[Extract.] 
Boston  in  New  England,  Sept  22  1768. 
Rev  Sir,  .  .  .  The  general  state  of  the  Churches 
in  this  part  of  America  are  indeed  in  as  good  a  condi- 
tion as  can  reasonably  be  expected  under  the  present 
troublesome  state  of  these  Colonies.     All  that  we  are 
able  to  do  in  these  times  is  only  to  cultivate  among  the 
people    committed  to  our  care  a  spirit  of  peace  and 
patience  under  the   various  insults  to  wliich  they  are 
exposed  for   refusing  to   join  in  the  popular  clamors 


102  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

which  now  prevail.  We  are  neither  allowed  to  speak 
nor  scarcely  to  be  silent  unless  we  join  with  those  who 
we  believe  to  be  laboring  the  destruction  of  our  con- 
stitution, civil  &  religious.  The  civil  Government  is  too 
weak  to  afford  us  protection  ;  &  ecclesiastical  superior 
we  have  none  on  this  side  the  Atlantic,  from  whom 
we  may  receive  timely  advice  or  direction  under  our 
present  trials.  We  can  only  look  up  to  God  and  cast 
ourselves  upon  the  divine  providence  for  protection  and 
for  a  happy  issue  to  our  distress.  .  .  . 
We  are,  with  all  duty  &  respect. 

The  Society's  ob^  &  most  h'ble  Servants, 
H.  Caner,  W.  Serjeant, 

Arthur  Browne,  Jacob  Bailey, 

Ebenezer  Thompson,     Joshua  W.  Weeks, 
Will.  McGilchrist,       W.  Walter, 
John  Troutbeck,  John  Lyon, 

Edward  Bass,  Moses  Badger, 

Marn.  Browne,  Willard  Wheeler. 

Edw°  Winslow, 

The  number  of  the  Episcopal  parishes  at  this  time 
in  the  Massachusetts  colony  was  about  fourteen,  most 
of  them  situated  in  the  eastern,  and  two  only  being  in 
the  western  part  of  the  colony.  In  Boston,  there  were 
three  churches,  —  King's  Chapel,  founded  in  1669; 
Christ  Church,  founded  in  1722  ;  and  Trinity  Church, 
estabHshed  in  1735.  These,  with  the  following,  made 
up  the  full  list  of  the  parishes :  Christ  Church,  Brain- 
tree  (1704) ;  St.  Michael's,  Marblehead  (1707) ;  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Newburyport  (1711) ;  St.  Paul's  Church, 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      103 

Dedliam  (1731) ;  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Scituate  (1731, 
now  Hanover) ;  St.  Peter's  Church,  Salem  (1733)  j  St. 
Thomas's  Church,  Taunton  (?) ;  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Hopkinton  (1743);  Christ  Church,  Cambridge  (1759)  ; 
St.  James,  Great  Barrington  (1760) ;  and  St.  Luke's 
Lanesborough  (1767).^ 

There  were  other  points  where  services  were  occa- 
sionally held,  hke  Plymouth,  Marshfield,  Amesbury, 
and  Stoughton,  —  the  Episcopalians  in  these  towns 
looking  to  the  nearest  rector  for  ministerial  offices. 

In  all  of  these  parishes  there  were  church  buildings, 
some  architecturally  beautiful,  and  others  simple  wooden 
structures,  with  no  pretence  to  dignity.  The  Boston 
church  edifices  were  the  most  important :  King's  Chapel, 
built  of  stone,  was  an  ornament  to  the  city,  and  Christ 
Church,  built  after  plans  by  Sir  Christopher  Wren, 
was  noted  for  its  graceful  spire ;  while  Trinity  was 
considered  equally  effective.  Christ  Church,  Cam- 
bridge, designed  by  Mr.  Peter  Harrison,  the  architect 
of  King's  Chapel,  was  thought  by  Dr.  Abiel  Holmes  to 
be  worthy  of  special  mention  in  his  history  of  Cam- 
bridge, where  he  alluded  to  it  as  being  "  considered  by 
connoisseurs  in  architecture  as  one  of  the  best  con- 
structed churches  in  New  England."  On  the  other 
hand,  St.  Paul's  Church,  Dedham,  was  a  wooden  build- 
ing, forty  feet  by  thirty  feet,  for  many  years  enclosed 
with  rough  boards  and  rough  flooring,  until  contribu- 
tions from  Boston  and  Newport  enabled  the  worshippers 

^  These  dates  are  taken  from  the  Diocesan  Journal,  1896  ;  it  is  likely 
that  a  fuller  investigation  into  the  origin  of  the  parishes  may  cause  some 
changes  to  be  made  in  the  dates  assigned. 


104  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

to  finish  it  and  build  the  tower,  —  a  process  of  so  many 
years  that  a  popular  song  made  a  joke  of  the  long 
delay  in  the  couplet,  — 

"  When  you  and  I  these  things  shall  see 
Then  Dedham  Church  will  finished  be."  ^ 

St.  Peter's,  Salem,  and  St.  Michael's,  Marblehead, 
both  had  handsome  buildings.  St.  Paul's  parish,  New- 
buryport,  having  grown  in  strength  under  the  efforts 
of  Bass,  had  been  using  exclusively  its  new  building 
since  the  period  when  Queen  Anne's  Chapel  had  fallen 
into  decay. 

The  interior  arrangement  of  the  buildings  was  more 
ornate  than  the  meeting-houses,  because  the  Episco- 
paUans  proceeded  on  the  theory  that  beauty  in  the 
house  of  God  was  an  aid  to  worship  rather  than  a 
hindrance.  The  pulpit,  sometimes  sustaining  a  brass 
rod  holding  an  hourglass,  and  the  reading-desk  and 
the  communion-table,  with  their  hangings  of  silk,  vel- 
vet, and  brocade,  were  often  rich  pieces  of  furniture ; 
and  an  artist  sometimes  wrought  in  color  the  creed  and 
commandments,  as  symbols  of  "faith  and  works,"  on 
the  wall  back  of  the  communion-table.  These  colored 
decorations  are  still  to  be  seen  in  many  of  the  churches, 
notably  King's  Chapel,  Christ  Church,  Boston,  and  St. 
Michael's,  Marblehead;  in  St.  Paul's,  Newburyport, 
there  is  preserved  the  original  "  Creed  and  Command- 
ments," painted  on  a  dark  ground  in  yellow  letters, — 
the  whole  framed  by  fluted  pilasters  and  a  Greek 
pediment  at  the  top.  The  organ  with  its  gilt  pipes 
added  to  the  variety  of  the  effect,  when  permission  was 

^  S.  B.  Babcock,  Historical  Sermon,  1846,  p.  12. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      105 

granted  to  use  one  in  the  service,  as  in  St.  Peter's, 
Salem,  "  by  a  vote  of  the  Town."  On  Communion 
Sunday  the  rich  silver  flagons  and  chalices,  in  many 
cases  presented  by  different  kings  and  queens  of  Eng- 
land, helped  to  make  the  worship  beautiful  as  well  as 
devotional.  The  prayer-books  in  use  in  the  chancel 
were  often  masterpieces  of  the  bookmaker's  art,  one  in 
Taunton  being  the  gift,  in  1742,  of  the  Hon.  Arthur 
Onslow,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons.  Christ 
Church,  Boston,  jDossessed  silver  flagons,  a  chalice,  a 
patten,  an  alms-basin,  bearing  the  royal  arms  and  an 
inscription  :  "  The  gift  of  his  Majesty  King  George  II. 
to  Christ  Church  at  Boston  in  New  England  at  the 
request  of  the  governour  Belcher,  1733."  One  of 
the  flagons  in  Newburyport  had  for  its  inscription 
"  The  gift  of  K.  WiUiam  and  Q.  Mary  to  the  Reverend 
Samuel  Myles  for  the  use  of  their  Majesties  ChajDpel 
in  New  England,  1694  ;  '*  also  a  chahce  marked  "  Ex 
Dono  Johannis  Mills  1693."  The  parishes  also  pos- 
sessed other  silver  communion  services,  given  from 
time  to  time  by  grateful  parishioners.  The  walls  were 
often  decorated  with  the  royal  arms  and  heraldic  de- 
vices of  the  leading  members,  especially  if  they  were 
of  high  rank  and  in  official  positions.  The  scene  on 
Sunday  morning  in  the  churches  must  have  been  pictur- 
esque, when,  amid  these  surroundings,  the  men,  dressed 
in  their  colored  coats,  with  glistening  buttons  and 
laces,  the  women  in  their  brocades,  and  the  officers  of 
the  king's  troops  in  their  red  uniforms,  were  led  in 
worship  by  the  clergyman  in  his  white  surplice,  or, 
more  often,  in  his  black  gown. 


106  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

The  worshippers  were  often  summoned  to  church  by 
the  peal  of  chuning  bells,  that  sent  out  their  invitation 
through  the  still  air  of  the  Sabbath  day.  The  bells 
of  Christ  Church,  Boston,  were  the  most  famous. 
Eight  in  number,  each  with  its  appropriate  inscription, 
swung  in  the  belfry  and  sounded  afar  their  messages 
of  joy  or  sorrow.  The  legend  on  the  seventh  bell 
expressed  the  spirit  of  them  all :  "  Since  generosity  has 
opened  our  mouths,  our  tongues  shall  ring  aloud  its 
praise,  1744 ; "  the  eighth  bell  told  the  story  of  their 
parentage  in  the  simple  phrase  :  "  Abel  Kudhall  of 
Glouster  cast  us  all,  Anno  1744." 

The  following  gleanings  from  some  of  the  record- 
books  of  the  old  parishes  illustrate  the  condition  of  the 
churches.  The  first  letter,  preserved  in  St.  Michael's 
Church,  Marblehead,  is  suggestive  of  the  way  in  which 
the  parishes  were  named.  The  wardens  asked  Governor 
Nicholson  to  give  the  name  to  their  parish :  "  We 
pray  your  Excellency  to  give  it  a  name  and  continue 
your  care  of  us."  These  letters  and  records,  though 
written  at  an  earlier  date  than  the  time  immediately 
preceding  the  Revolution,  refer  to  possessions  of  the 
parishes  of  a  permanent  character. 

LETTER   TO   GENERAL  NICHOLSON. 

May  it  please  Your  Excell^,  —  Your  Excell^ 
being  our  Patron  &  first  benefactor  at  our  laying  the 
foundation  of  the  Church  here  in  Marblehead,  &  ever 
since  as  Occasion  has  offer'd  you  have  been  doing  Us 
all  the  kind  Offices  that  we  could  think  of  or  desire 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.     107 

more  especially  on  your  encouraging  the  Hon"*  Societys 
sending  the  Rev'*  M""  David  Mossom  to  be  our  Minister, 
in  whom  we  are  very  happy  having  the  pleasure  and 
profit  of  giving  us  a  gen*  Satisfaction.  We  take  this 
Opportunity,  (tho  late)  to  Express  our  Thankfulness 
(in  behaK  of  the  Church  &  by  a  vote  of  the  Congrega- 
tion last  Easter  Monday,)  for  the  aforesaid  favours  & 
to  Congratulate  Your  Excell^^  safe  arrival  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  South  Carolina;  which  we  hope  &  doubt 
not  is  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  those  people,  Your 
Excelly  having  the  Honour  of  Settling  them  in  peace 
at  a  time  when  They  were  almost  Resolved  to  ruine 
each  other,  the  just  &  due  Esteem  Your  Excelly 
deserves  &  the  Experience  we  have  of  your  Love  to 
our  Church,  encouraging  Us  to  pray  your  Excelly  to 
give  it  a  Name,  &  Continue  Your  Care  of  Us,  & 
that  God  would  be  pleased  to  bless  your  Excelly  with 
health  &  happiness  is  the  hearty  prayer  of  your  Ex'ys 
most  Obedient  &  most  Obliged  hum^  Servants 

D  Mossom  Minister 
Charles  WhedenI  Church 
Jos  Majoey  J   Wardens 

Marblehead,  July  27:  1722 

RECOEDS   OF  TRINITY  CHURCH,    BOSTON. 

Boston  Feb  8  1739/40 

Cap^  N  Y  Neal 

S^,  —  As  you  are  bound  to  the  Bay  of  Honduras  we 
would  Beg  you  would  undertake  to  ask  for  us  of  the 
Good  Gentlemen  there  —  their  kind  assistance  towards 
furnishing  a  New  Church  lately  built  in  this  Town  called 


108  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Trinity  Church  (where  we  have  often  the  pleasure  to 
see  you).  The  kind  Gentelm"  of  the  Bay  have  been 
very  liberal!  towards  Christ  Church  at  y®  North  End  of 
this  Town  and  We  doubt  not  they  will  be  pleased  to 
have  ye  credit  of  Contributing  towards  ours  and  to 
have  their  Names  enrolled  amongst  the  Benefactors  and 
to  have  a  Seatt  set  apart  for  them,  it  certainly  will  be 
a  Charitable  Act.  Our  Church  is  large  and  costly  and 
the  undertakers  very  few,  its  likely  to  be  a  growing 
Church,  could  we  get  some  assistance  to  enable  us  to 
finish  it  it  would  be  a  very  commodous  handsome  one. 
Pray  use  y""  best  Interest  for  us  and  in  our  Name  assure 
the  Good  Gentelmen  (who  shall  be  so  charitably  dis- 
posed as  to  give  us  any  help)  of  our  hearty  Thanks 
&  uttmost  wishes  for  their  prosperity.  We  wish  you  a 
good  voyage  &  safe  return  &  are  in  behalf  of  Trinity 
Church  Sr  y'  Hum  Serv^ 

W:  S 


Ch  W"" 
*)  u 

should  ye  be  so  prosperous  as  to  gett  anything  for  us 
we  pray  you  take  care  to  have  it  sent  us  in  the  best 
manner  y°  can,  please  to  take  the  Names  of  such  Gentel- 
men who  may  be  disposed  to  serve  as  that  they  may  be 
Enrolled  in  Our  Books  as  Benefactors. 

Boston  Oct  6  1741 

Mr  Tho^  Sandford 

S^,  —  The  Wardens  of  Trinity  Church  in  behalf  of  s*^ 
Ch.  wrote  y°  Jan  8  last  retturning  y°  their  hearty  thanks 
for  your  good  offices  for  them  and  we  now  take  this 
opportunity  (by  the  bearer  who  is  a  member  with  us  of 
s*^  Ch.)  to  repeate  the  same. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      109 

His  Except  our  Gov''  who  is  by  his  maj*^^  royal  favour 
advanced  to  the  cheaf  seat  of  Government  here,  to  the 
great  pleasure  of  all  of  the  Ch:  of  EngP  and  we  doubt 
not  will  tend  to  its  prosperity  he  has  pleased  to  say  he 
would  write  for  a  Sett  of  plate  and  other  furniture  of 
a  Chapp"^  the  usual  Bounty  of  his  Majesty  to  his 
Governours  which  when  obtained  he  designed  for  the 
use  of  Trinity  Church  which  affair  he  committs  to  the 
care  of  M'"  Christ®  Kelby  to  Solhcitt  with  the  Duke  of 
Grafton  y"  L**  Chamber^  of  y"  Hous^^''  — He  would 
presume  to  ask  of  you  your  assistance  in  this  afair. 
The  charge  arrising  from  this  affair  Mr.  Simpson  will 
furnish  in  our  Behalf.  Wee  have  only  to  add  at  present 
Our  hearty  wishes  for  y'"  health  and  prosperity  and  are 
in  behalf  of  Trinity  Church  S'' 

Y''  most  Obed  most  Hum^  Servants 

Jos:  Dowse   \  fi  t^ 
P^  Kenwood  f 

-Boston  Octob  8'"  1741. 
M^  Christ^  Kelby 

S^,  —  His  Except  y®  Gov""  just  now  acq**  us  that  he 
designed  to  give  y"  y®  Trouble  of  Soliciting  y®  Duke  of 
Grafton  as  Lord  Chamberlan  of  his  Maj*^  Household 
for  y®  usual  present  of  plate  &  Linnen  for  y®  Commu- 
nion Table,  a  Bible  &  pray®'"  Books  &  vestments  all  ways 
granted  from  y®  Crown  to  the  Gov"  predecessors  and 
his  Excel:®^  intending  them  when  obtained  for  the  use 
of  Trinity  Church  which  at  present  being  very  much 
under  our  immediate  care  we  earnestly  desire  that  you 
would   use  your  best   Interest   and   Endeavors  for  y" 


110  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

speedy  procuring  them  whicli  will  ever  be  esteemed  as 
a  perticular  favour  by  us  and  all  our  Brethreen  and  as 
we  have  y^  pleasure  of  hearing  you  had  no  small  share 
in  the  great  but  very  agreeable  Revolution  that  has 
lately  happened  amongst  us  we  make  no  doubt  you  will 
in  this  instance  be  very  zealous  that  our  present  Gov"" 
as  he  deserves  so  that  he  shall  want  no  mark  of  Royal 
favour  which  others  have  received.  .  .  . 

We  wish  you  all  possible  prosperity  and  are  &c 
Your  most  Hum.  Serts. 

A.  Davenport 
Jos  Dowse 
P^  Kenwood 

"August  27  1742.  At  a  meeting  of  the  vestry  at 
y^  Church  August  27  1742  Present  Joseph  Dowse  & 
P'  Kenwood  Wardens ;  Mess^  Benj"  Faneuil  Rufus 
Greene  Th°^  Aston,  James  Bouteneam  Tho^  Greene 
Jon**"  Simpson  vestry  men.  The  wardens  report :  that 
his  Excelency  Gov"  Shirley  had  delivered  to  them 
for  the  use  of  this  Church  a  Sett  of  plate  &  furniture 
he  received  from  his  Maj*^  K  George  2^  viz  Plate  2 
flaggons,  a  chalice  a  patten  &  a  receiver  of  Linnen  2 
p  '  al '  20  yd*  Tabling  Dyaper  &  2  Surplices,  of  Books 
a  larg  &  Royall  Bible  2  Royall  Common  prayer  Books 
&  12  f"""  common  prayer  Books  an  Altar  Cloth,  a  Table 
Carpett  pulpit  Cloath  pulpitt  Cushion  2  Deap  Cushions 
of  Crimson  Damask. 

"  Voted  that  the  Wardens  retturn  the  thanks  of  this 
vestry  to  his  Excel*'^  for  his  procuring  the  aforesaid 
from  his  Maj*^ 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      Ill 

"  Voted,  that  a  pew  be  fitted  up  for  his  Exeel®^*  accom- 
modation when  he  pleases  to  come  to  this  Church,  that 
the  two  pews  N°  69  &  N°  70  be  made  into  square 
pews  one  for  to  accomodate  his  ExceP^  the  other  for  the 
Wardens.  Voted  that  Dau^  Kea  have  the  pew  no  100 
for  £55.00" 

"  September  20  1742  sent  home  the  Surplices  we  had 
borrowed  of  y^  King  Chapell  — 

"  Lent  his  Excellency  Gov'"  Shirley  three  foil"  Common 
prayer  Books  for  his  own  use  at  y**  Chapell.  he  saying 
he  would  be  accountable  for  y*  same. 

"  Returned  to  Christ  Church  Th®  things  we  had  bor- 
rowed of  them  viz  Two  Velvet  Cushions  &  cover  2  folP 
prayer  Books  a  Bible  2  Dyaper  Table  Cloath  2  Napkins 
borrowed  8,  1737  &  receipt  recorded  foil  42  Church 
Books." 

The  members  of  the  churches  were  from  some  of 
the  best  families  in  the  colony.  They  were  by  no 
means  the  ragtag  and  bobtail  among  the  vicious  who 
desired  to  practice  their  ungodly  customs  outside  the 
jurisdiction  of  puritanical  censors.  This  severe  view 
might  be  entertained  by  those  who  read  the  violent 
denunciations  that  were  constantly  hurled  against  the 
churchmen.  The  vestrymen  of  the  several  churches 
and  the  leading  parishioners  were  generally  men  of 
standing  in  the  business  and  social  world  of  the  day, 
and  in  more  than  one  instance  were  public  benefactors. 
So  far  back  as  1704,  it  was  Campbell,  of  Queen's 
Chapel,  Portsmouth,  that  published  the  first  newspaper 
issued  in  Boston.^  William  Bollan,  who  secured  the 
^  Foote,  Annals  of  King's  Chapel,  vol.  i.  p.  173. 


112  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Louisburg  reimbursement,  thus  rendering  an  important 
service  to  the  colony,  was  an  Episcopalian  ;  and  also 
Peter  Faneuil,  who  gave  Boston  its  market-house, 
which  became  the  "  Cradle  of  Liberty."  Thomas 
Coram,  the  great  philanthropist,  first  began  his  career 
of  generosity  in  Taunton,  and  then  on  his  return  to 
England  founded  the  "  FoundHng  Hospital,"  which  is 
to  this  day  one  of  the  great  charities  of  London.  The 
names  that  appear  and  reappear  on  the  records  of  the 
different  parishes  are  those  of  men  who  were  identified 
with  the  best  interests  of  Massachusetts  in  the  early 
and  later  days,  names  hke  Sohier,  Brimmer,  and  Deblois, 
Dalton,  Atkins,  Price,  and  Greene  ;  and  in  the  neigh- 
boring colony  of  Rhode  Island,  Malbone,  Hazard, 
Olney,  Goddard,  Brown,  and  Gardiner.  The  words  of 
Mr.  Thomas  C.  Amory  are  very  true  when  he  speaks 
of  these  early  Episcopalians  as  being  "  the  compeers 
of  any  of  their  contemporaries  in  character,  education, 
public  service,  or  practical  piety."  ^ 

The  love  for  the  Church  of  England,  on  the  part 
of  many  of  these  men,  was  a  deep  affection,  inherited 
through  many  generations.  Their  adherence  was  no 
whimsical  decision  of  the  moment.  When  they  came 
together  to  found  a  parish  or  to  sustain  it,  their  pur- 
pose was  not  to  offend  their  neighbors,  but  to  minister 
to  the  spiritual  needs  of  themselves  and  their  families. 
Others  preferred  the  dignity  of  a  liturgical  service, 
though  perhaps  reared  under  different  customs ;  and 
when  they  worshipped  with  the  Episcopalians  it  was 
because  of  a  genuine  preference,  not  a  perversity  born 

^  Perry's  American  Church  History,  vol.  i.  645. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.       113 

of  discontent.  It  is  an  interesting  testimony  of  loy- 
alty when  we  learn  that  Episcopalians  ten  miles  away 
from  Boston  drove  to  service  every  Sunday  to  the 
distant  city,  and  returned,  bringing  mth  them  a  cer- 
tificate signed  by  the  rector  that  they  were  not  Sab- 
bath-breakers. 

It  is  difficult  now  to  get  at  the  exact  figures  about 
the  number  of  communicants  and  families  in  the  dif- 
ferent parishes,  but  the  scattered  references  in  reports 
to  the  society  in  England  give  one  some  idea  of  the  size 
of  the  congregations.  The  Rector  of  Christ  Church, 
Boston,  Rev.  Mather  Byles,  the  younger,  writing  in 
1769,  says  that  there  are  one  hundred  families  on  his 
list.^  In  St.  Thomas  Church,  Taunton,  in  the  year 
1765,  there  were  thirty-two  communicants  and  twenty- 
seven  baptisms.^  The  church  at  Braintree  had  thirty 
families,  and  in  Dedham  there  were  fourteen,  while 
at  Stoughton  eighteen.^  In  Scituate,  Hanover,  Marsh- 
field,  "the  number  of  those  who  profess  themselves 
of  the  Church  of  England  are  50  families,"  thus  wrote 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  in  1763.*  There  were  fifteen 
families  in  Bridgewater.^  Christ  Church,  Cambridge, 
had  in  1763  so  many  as  twenty-six  families,  and 
these  were  added  to  up  to  1774.^  St.  Peter's,  Salem, 
had  increased  in  membership  to  such  an  extent  that 
in  1772  the  building  was  widened  twenty  feet,  and  an 
assistant  minister  was  provided. 

1  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  545. 

2  N.  T.  Bent,  History  of  St.  Thomas  Church. 

3  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  493. 

4  Ibid.  6  Ibid.,  p.  564.  «  Ibid.,  p.  502. 


114  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

The  clergy  who  ministered  to  these  people  were 
for  the  most  part  men  of  scholarly  attainments  and 
virtuous  life.  Many  of  them  were  either  graduates  of 
English  universities  or  of  Harvard  College  ;  some  being 
native-born  Americans,  others  having  come  over  to  the 
colonies  as  missionaries  from  England.  The  attitude 
of  loyalty  to  the  British  government  that  many  of 
them  assumed  may  easily  be  accounted  for  on  the 
ground  of  their  early  English  training,  together  with 
an  inability  to  appreciate  the  needs  of  the  colonies, 
as  viewed  from  their  own  standpoint.  But  Dr.  Henry 
Caner,  of  King's  Chapel  (1747-1776),  was  born  in 
New  Haven  and  graduated  from  Yale  College;  Dr. 
William  Walter,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Boston 
(1764-1776),  was  the  descendant  of  a  long  line  of 
Puritan  divines,  and  took  his  degree  at  Harvard  in 
1756 ;  Rev.  Mather  Byles,  Rector  of  Christ  Church  at 
the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  was  the  son  of  his 
famous  father  bearing  the  same  name,  an  American, 
and  a  man  of  great  ability ;  and  Mr.  Weeks,  of  Marble- 
head,  and  Mr.  Clark,  of  Dedham,  were  both  Harvard 
men.  The  other  clergy  in  the  colony  were  men  of  good 
character  and  influence  in  their  respective  towns ;  one 
of  them  was  referred  to  as  "  a  painful  preacher  and  a 
good  Hver,"  meaning  thereby  that  he  was  a  careful 
sermonizer  and  of  virtuous  conduct. 

It  is  sometimes  supposed  that  the  churches  were  sup- 
ported entirely  by  money  sent  from  the  society  in 
England,  but  this  is  by  no  means  true.  The  society 
usually  sent  to  its  missionaries  the  sum  of  ,£50.  This, 
however,  would  not  have  been  a  sufficient  support  for 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      115 

the  clergy.  An  additional  amount  was  contributed  by 
the  congregations.  They  also  had  to  provide  for  the 
other  running  expenses  of  the  churches  ;  and  when  a 
building  was  to  be  erected,  the  people  subscribed  for 
the  purpose.  The  Puritans  did  not  have  the  same 
difficulty  in  raising  funds  for  their  ministers,  because 
the  towns  were  regularly  taxed  according  to  law,  and 
the  revenue  thus  obtained  was  applied  to  the  support 
of  their  religious  services.  For  many  years  the  Epis- 
copahans  were  also  taxed  to  pay  the  Congregational 
ministers,  and  thus,  having  a  double  responsibility,  they 
were  not  able  to  give  so  largely  as  they  wished  to  their 
own  clergy.  But  before  the  Revolution,  the  church- 
men succeeded  in  having  their  taxes,  collected  for  reh- 
gious  purposes,  appropriated  for  the  use  of  their  own 
ministers.  The  method  of  such  distribution  of  the 
taxes  is  interestingly  set  forth  in  a  letter  written  by  the 
Rev.  William  Clark,  of  Dedham  :  "  Whatever  number 
of  church  people  live  in  any  parish  are  rated  by  their 
assessors  in  the  same  proportion  as  the  Dissenters  — 
these  rates  they  are  obliged  to  pay.  The  money  is 
carried  into  their  treasury  ;  but  then  according  to  a 
Law  passed  some  years  since  the  Episcopal  minister  and 
his  Wardens  give  a  certificate  that  such  persons  are 
^  Members  of  the  Church  of  England  and  do  usually 
and  frequently  attend  public  worship  with  them  on  the 
Lords  Days.'  This  certificate  so  given,  the  Treasurer  is 
obliged  to  pay  the  Episcopal  minister  the  rates  of  the 
persons  thus  certified."  ^  When  there  were  only  a  few 
Episcopalians,  the  sum  of  money  was  not  large.     There 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  560. 


116  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

is  a  record  in  the  First  Parish  of  Dedham  which  gives 
the  amount  for  one  year :  "  Voted  to  grant  the  sum  of 
£J2i.  10s  and  5d-3-4  to  make  good  the  deficiency  which 
paying  over  the  taxes  of  the  members  of  the  Church 
of  England  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow  has  occasioned  in 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Haven's  salary."  ^ 

A  method  of  adding  to  the  stipend  of  the  clergy  by 
means  of  the  offertory  was  in  use  in  St.  Paul's,  New- 
buryport,  for  on  the  records  of  the  parish  is  preserved 
the  following  vote,  April  1,  1771 :  "  Voted  that  all  the 
Loose  Money  being  unmark*  and  collected  in  s*^  Church 
should  be  deHvered  to  the  Rev*^  Mr  Bass  as  his  Perqui- 
site. Also  to  address  &  Solicit  the  Governor  to  Grant 
the  Plate  (given  by  his  Majesty)  for  use  of  said  Church." 
The  reference  to  "  money  being  unmark*  "  suggests  a 
system  not  unlike  the  modern  custom  in  some  parishes 
of  placing  their  contributions  in  envelopes,  though  of 
course  the  worshippers  found  other  means  of  designat- 
ing the  object  for  which  their  gifts  were  intended. 

Another  vote  of  the  same  parish  may  indicate  that 
Mr.  Bass  was  given  the  income  from  the  rent  of  certain 
pews  spoken  of  as  "  his."  As  the  pews  were  rated  at 
£4,  this  custom  must  have  added  to  his  salary  very 
materially.  It  was  voted  on  March  3,  1769,  "  That 
Mr.  Bass  has  Liberty  agreeable  to  his  Petition  to  build 
a  Vestry  Room  on  the  North  Side  of  the  Church  behind 
the  Pulpit  to  have  a  Door  go  out  through  the  Pew  now 
Improved  by  Mrs.  Barriet,  Provided  He  will  accomodate 
Mrs  Barriet  with  the  use  of  one  of  his  Pews  in  Lieu  of 
hers." 

1  S.  B.  Babcock,  Historical  Sermon,  Dedham,  1846,  p.  11. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      117 

The  cliurches  often  received  legacies  from  devoted  pa- 
rishioners. Thomas  Coram's  gift  of  land  to  the  church 
in  Taunton  was  not  the  sole  example  of  such  generosity. 
William  Price  in  1772  bequeathed  his  estate  to  King's 
Chapel  and  Trinity  to  provide  lectures,  sustain  char- 
ities, and  for  other  parochial  purposes.  Thomas  Greene, 
from  Narragansett,  estabhshed  at  Trinity  what  is  called 
the  "  Greene  Foundation "  to  pay  the  salaries  of  the 
assistant  ministers.  Nor  were  the  claims  of  the  poor 
forgotten,  for  in  1724  the  "Boston  Episcopal  Char- 
itable Society  "  began  its  long  and  honorable  career. 

When  special  emergencies  arose,  the  churchmen  were 
equally  liberal.  There  is  a  record  of  a  collection  of 
over  .£24  taken  in  King's  Chapel  "  towards  the  redemp- 
tion of  Anthony  Heywood,  Thatcher  and  Bidl  from 
captivity  on  galley."  Bass  was  large  minded  enough 
to  think  of  the  needs  of  those  outside  his  own  parish 
who  were  called  upon  to  suffer  by  sudden  calamity.  A 
new  evidence  of  his  sympathy  and  public  spirit  is  con- 
tained in  two  receipts  that  time  has  spared  for  the  credit 
of  the  rector  at  Newburyport.  There  are  not  many 
items  concerning  his  parish  life  at  this  time,  but  these 
following  notes  make  up  for  the  loss  :  — 

Boston  September  20,  1768 
Received  of  the  Ch.  of  Christ  at  Newbury-Port  under 
the    Pastoral  care  of  the   Rev.  Mr.  Bass  Six  Pounds, 
Seven  Shillings  and  Eleven  pence  being  a  Contribution 
for  the  Sufferers  by  the  Fire  at  Montreal. 

H.  Grey. 


118  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

The  second  receipt,  dated  two  years  later,  indicates 
that  the  former  gift  to  "  the  Sufferers  by  Fire  at  Mon- 
treal "  was  not  the  result  of  a  sporadic  sympathy,  but 
seems  to  have  been  the  well-understood  policy  of  his 
parish :  — 

Marblehead  July  9,  1770 

Received  of  Mr.  Benj.  Balch  Treasurer  of  the  Church 
at  Newbury  Port,  Five  Pounds  &  four  Pence  being  said 
Churches  Collection  for  the  Widows  and  Fatherless  of 
this  Town  for  which  we  return  them  thanks. 

Per  order  of  the  Co7nmittee. 

The  baptisms,  marriages,  and  funerals  recorded  in 
the  legible  and  well-formed  handwriting  of  Edward 
Bass  prove  that  he  was  faithful  in  his  duties  as  pas- 
tor ;  and  his  amiability  and  good  sense  must  have  made 
him  a  welcome  visitor  in  the  homes  of  his  parishioners. 
Certainly  he  was  a  charming  host  to  any  of  his  clerical 
brethren  who  happened  to  pass  through  his  town ; 
they  always  were  hospitably  entertained.  The  Rev. 
Jacob  Bailey,  missionary,  more  than  once  tells  in  his 
diary  of  his  visits  to  his  brother  at  Newburyport :  — 

"  1767  Sept  25.  Arrived  at  Newbury  and  slept 
at  Rev  Mr  Bass's ; "  ^  and  though  Mr.  Bailey  has 
not  given  a  detailed  account  of  these  visits,  one  may 
perhaps  catch  a  gHmpse  of  the  worthy  rector  by  means 
of  a  description  of  a  brother  of  his  who  was  living  in 
New  Hampshire,  to  whom  Bailey  often  carried  letters 
from  Newburyport.  He  says  :  "  About  eleven  o'clock 
we  arrived  at  the  dweUing  of  my  old  friend  Mr.  Bass, 

^  Collection  of  the  Episcopal  Historical  Society,  vol.  ii,  p.  339. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      119 

brother  to  Parson  Bass  of  Newbury.  Here  we  met 
with  a  cordial  reception  and  had  a  very  good  dinner  in 
the  primitive  style.  Figure  to  yourself  a  New  Eng- 
land farmer  twenty  years  ago  about  ten  miles  from 
Boston  able  with  his  own  industry  to  make  a  com- 
fortable living,  besides  discharging  his  tax  bill,  pay- 
ing the  midwife  and  providing  a  plentiful  and  greasy 
dinner  on  Thanksgiving  sufficient  to  feast  an  hun- 
dred ploughmen.  Produce  such  a  person  to  your  im- 
agination, and  you  will  obtain  an  idea  of  Mr.  Bass, 
his  honesty  and  accidental  wit  which  he  scatters  abroad 
in  his  conversation."  *  "  This  accidental  wit,"  accord- 
ing to  all  the  traditions,  was  a  characteristic  of  the 
sprightly  conversation  of  Edward  Bass,  as  well  as  that 
of  his  brother.  One  of  his  witty  remarks  has  come 
down  to  us.  In  answer  to  a  question  why  he  left 
Dorchester,  he  said  "  that  the  streams  in  Dorchester 
were  not  deep  enough  for  bass  to  swim  in."  He  was, 
however,  unlike  his  brother  in  the  matter  of  "  midwife 
fees,"  for  his  home  was  never  made  happy  by  the 
presence  of  children. 

An  event  of  some  importance  occurred  in  Newbury- 
port  in  September,  1770,  when  the  great  preacher, 
George  Whitefield,  died.  Whitefield  had  often  been  in 
Newburyport,  and  his  efforts  had  been  very  successful 
in  stirring  up  the  religious  interests  of  the  town.  At 
first  the  Episcopal  clergy  had  not  been  opposed  to 
Whitefield,  but  when  he  drifted  further  and  further 
away  from  the  methods  of  the  Church  of  England,  they 
had  not  given  him  their  sympathy.     Bass  had  previ- 

^  Collection  of  the  Episcopal  Historical  Society,  vol.  ii.  p.  190. 


120  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

ously  remarked  on  the  ill  effect  on  the  community  of 
certain  excesses  of  Whitefield's  followers,  but  this  criti- 
cism did  not  apply  to  the  preacher  himself,  nor  to  the 
genuine  religious  growth  which  often  signalized  his 
arrival  in  the  towns  of  the  colonies.  Bass's  tolerance 
for  those  who  differed  from  him  on  religious  matters 
became  more  and  more  one  of  his  leading  traits.  It  is 
not  therefore  surprising  to  find  his  charity  emphasized 
by  an  act  of  Christian  courtesy  which  he  was  called 
upon  to  perform  when  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
chosen  pall-bearers  at  the  funeral  of  Whitefield.  That 
he  was  asked  to  be  of  the  number  of  those  who  were 
to  perform  this  tender  office  for  the  dead,  and  that  he 
accepted  the  trust  bestowed  upon  him,  showed  both  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  early  Methodists, 
and  his  own  courteous  bearing  toward  them.  White- 
field,  after  his  exciting  labors  for  his  Master,  was  laid 
to  rest  in  Newburyport  in  1770,  and  his  pall-bearers 
were,  "  Rev  D*"  Haven  of  Portsmouth  and  Rodgers  of 
Exeter,  Jewet  and  Chandler  of  Rowley,  Moses  Parsons 
of  Newbury  and  Bass  of  Newburyport."  ^ 

Bass's  ministry  was  not  always  confined  to  his  own 
parish.  He  frequently  preached  for  his  brethren  in  the 
neighboring  Episcopal  churches,  sometimes  going  so 
far  as  St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett,  the  records  of 
which  parish  contain  the  interesting  item  :  "  Sep.  1765. 
The  two  last  Sundays  in  this  month  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bass 
of  Newbury  preached  in  S*  Paul's  Narragansetts  for 
Mr.  Fay er weather."  On  other  occasions  he  preached 
in  the  same  church.^ 

1  Belcher's  Life  of  Whitefield,  p.  442. 
^  Updike,  Narragansett  Church,  p.  261. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      121 

Bass  was  honored  by  an  invitation  to  preach  the  spe- 
cial sermon  at  the  installation  of  Grand  Master  John 
Rowe  of  the  "  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons," 
part  of  the  ceremonies  of  which  were  held  in  Trinity 
Church,  Boston,  on  November  23,  1768.  The  sermon 
preached  at  this  time  proved  very  acceptable,  and  was 
acknowledged  by  a  comphmentary  vote,  "  that  the 
thanks  of  this  Grand  Lodge  be  given  to  the  Rev''  Bro- 
ther Bass  for  his  excellent  sermon,  preached  before  the 
Fraternity  on  the  23^  instant,  and  to  desire  a  copy  of 
said  sermon  for  the  press ;  and  that  the  Grand  Sec- 
retary signify  to  him  the  Resolutions  of  this  Lodge." 
To  this  resolution  Bass  replied  in  a  characteristic 
manner :  — 

TO   ABRAHAM   SAVAGE. 

Newbury  Port  Dec.  8'"  1768 

Dear  Sm,  —  I  received  yours  by  the  last  Post,  and 
am  obliged  to  the  Brethren  of  the  Special  Grand  Lodge, 
lately  held  at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes,  for  the  compliment 
they  were  then  pleased  to  pass  upon  my  Sermon,  and 
the  honour  they  seem  disposed  to  do  me  by  Publish- 
ing it. 

I  am  not  much  used  to  standing  upon  ceremony, 
especially  with  a  Brother.  Whenever,  therefore,  I  shall 
chance  to  find  a  Friend  going  to  Boston,  who  is  willing 
to  take  the  trouble  upon  him,  I  will  send  you  the  Ser- 
mon or  will  deliver  it  to  any  Brother,  or  other  person 
whom  you  shall  desire  to  call  at  my  house  for  it. 
Your  Affectionate  Brother  &  humble  Servant, 

Edward  Bass. 


122  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

The  sermon  was  never  sent,  nor  called  for,  so  it  was 
not  printed  at  this  time.  Later,  it  was  delivered  before 
St.  John's  Lodge  at  Newburyport,  and  then  printed. 
His  turn  as  preacher  to  the  clergy  assembled  in  con- 
vention came  in  1771,  when,  on  September  18,  1771, 
he  dehvered  his  earnest  message  from  the  historic  pul- 
pit of  King's  Chapel,  Boston.  A  local  newspaper  thus 
refers  to  him  :  "  On  Wednesday  the  18'^  instant  a  Con- 
vention of  the  Episcopal  Clergy  was  held  in  this  Town, 
when  a  Sermon  was  preached  at  Kings  Chapel  on  the 
occasion  by  the  Rev'd  Mr.  Bass  of  Newbury."  *  He 
was  also  called  upon  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon  of 
his  dear  friend,  the  Rev.  Arthur  Browne,  of  Ports- 
mouth, New  Hampshire,  who  died  in  June,  1773.  Se- 
lecting his  text  from  Zechariah  i.  5,  "  Your  fathers 
where  are  they,"  he  spoke  of  his  deceased  friend  in  fit- 
ting words  :  "  This  man  of  God  came  into  our  country 
a  young  man.  Soon  after  entering  into  Holy  Orders, 
and  for  more  than  forty  years  with  very  little  interrup- 
tion, he  laboured  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  which  he 
executed  with  great  reputation,  having  been  all  along 
esteemed  an  excellent  preacher  and  orator  and  a  faith- 
ful parish  minister."  ^  This  eulogy  is  of  value  as  show- 
ing the  current  ideals  of  the  office  of  a  minister ;  and 
as  Bass  describes  his  friend  as  "  an  excellent  preacher 
and  faithful  parish  minister,"  we  are  led  to  see  that 
what  he  considered  a  faithful  clergyman  was  not  dif- 
ferent in  any  marked  degree  from  the  ideals  to-day  so 
far  as  they  relate  to  the  specific  duties  of  a  clergyman. 

^  Mass.  Gazette  and  Boston  Post-Boy,  September  30,  1771. 
2  Sprague,  Annals,  vol.  v.  p.  79. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.     123 

Bass  himself  was  by  no  means  an  ordinary  preacher ; 
his  style  was  simple  and  direct,  his  sermons  being  emi- 
nently practical,  often  scholarly  and  forcible.  Though 
an  analysis  will  be  made  later  in  this  study  of  the 
characteristics  of  his  sermons,  it  may  not  be  out  of 
place  here  to  quote  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Edward  Sprague 
Rand,  who  has  written  at  some  length  of  his  ability  as 
a  preacher :  "  His  manner  was  simple  and  plain,  carry- 
ing with  it  an  air  of  deep  sincerity  that  made  up  for 
what  might  have  seemed  to  some  a  lack  of  animation. 
And  his  discourses  were  quite  in  harmony  with  his 
manner ;  and  of  these  I  can  speak  with  more  confidence 
from  the  fact  that  I  have  had  the  opportunity  of  read- 
ing many  of  them  in  manuscript.  They  partook  almost 
of  the  simplicity  of  childhood ;  while  yet  they  were  by 
no  means  destitute  of  the  more  substantial  quaHties  of 
good  preaching.  No  matter  what  his  subject  might  be 
he  was  sure  to  find  something  in  it  practical  —  some- 
thing suited  to  make  men  better  and  happier.  He 
rarely,  if  ever,  preached  controversial  sermons,  and 
seemed  to  delight  especially  in  those  themes  which 
brought  him  more  immediately  in  contact  with  men  in 
their  daily  obligations  and  duties."  * 

While  the  colony  was  distracted  by  the  poHtical  agi- 
tations just  preceding  the  Revolution,  the  clerg}^  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  though  looked  upon  with  suspicion, 
were  attending  to  their  daily  ministerial  duties  with 
faithfulness  and  patience.  If  one  regards  the  situation 
from  their  standpoint,  one  must  be  impressed  with  the 
fact  that  they  were  earnest  men,  seeking  to  build  up 

^  Sprague,  Annals,  vol.  v.  p.  145. 


124  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  spiritual  kingdom  of  God;  and  there  is  no  evi- 
dence that  they  were  plotters  against  the  best  interests 
of  the  colonies.  But  they  were  representatives  of  the 
English  Church,  allied  by  virtue  of  establishment  with 
the  British  government ;  and  their  Prayer  Book  con- 
tained petitions  for  the  royal  family  and  government. 
Thus  identified  with  British  rule,  they  shared  the  hatred 
and  opposition  of  the  patriots.  Many  of  the  clergy 
were  Tories,  and  they  considered  that  loyalty  to  the 
existing  government  was  their  duty,  though  many  of 
their  parishioners  sided  with  the  patriot  cause.  Mr. 
Clark  from  Dedham  wrote  :  "  The  church  at  Dedham 
is  in  as  good  a  state  as  can  be  expected  in  these  trouble- 
some and  distracting  times.  Several  have  withdrawn  on 
account  of  what  is  called  the  Toryism  of  the  Church 
of  England  though  they  own  they  respect  me."  ^  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Winslow  in  July,  1774,  said  :  "  The  present 
miserably  distracted  state  of  this  province  does  and 
will  require  the  steadiness  and  circumspection  of  the 
Clergy  of  the  Church  of  England.  I  trust  they  will 
not  at  such  a  time  be  slothful  in  business  but  endeavor 
to  approve  their  conduct  to  the  confidence  of  their 
Superiors.  For  my  part  I  am  not  much  in  pain  from 
my  Parishioners;  they  should  regard  their  duty  to  God 
and  the  King."  ^ 

Harassed  in  the  colony,  the  clergy  also  were  in 
danger  of  not  receiving  their  usual  support  from  Eng- 
land. The  uncertain  political  conditions  were  the  cause 
of  diminishing  the  receipts  of  the  Venerable  Society 

'  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  577. 
2  Ibid.,  p.  573. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.     125 

for  mission  in  America,  so  that  a  discontinuance  of 
the  stipends  was  threatened.  Dr.  Caner  and  Mr.  Byles 
wrote  in  a  despondent  strain  in  1772  :  "  The  clergy 
are  extremely  mortified  not  only  on  account  of  the  dis- 
appointment of  the  good  people  of  Almsbury,  who 
must  now  remain  without  even  the  prospects  of  a 
settled  ministry,  but  chiefly  on  account  of  the  melan- 
choly representation  you  give  of  the  Society's  inability 
to  provide  for  any  further  missions.  Cut  short  in  our 
hopes  of  a  Bishop  to  reside  among  us,  should  we  also 
lose  the  Society's  support  the  affairs  of  the  Church 
must  soon  wear  a  gloomy  aspect." 

The  ministry  of  Edward  Bass  immediately  preceding 
the  Revolution  is  further  illustrated  by  his  letters  and 
extracts  from  the  Journal  of  the  society :  — 

EXTRACTS   FROM   THE  JOURNAL    OF  THE   SOCIETY. 

"  16  Decemb.  1768.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev? 
My  Bass  Miss7  at  Newbury  Port  29  Septem!- 1768.  .  .  . 

"  Agreed  to  recommend  to  send  Mf  Bass  the  pam- 
phlets desired. 

"  Resolved  to  agree  with  the  Committee."  ^ 

"  18  May,  1770.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev^  M'. 
Bass  Miss7  at  Newbury  Port,  Massachusets  N.  E.  dated 
Jan^.  4, 1770,  signed  also  by  M^  Arthur  Browne,  to  recom- 
mend Mr  John  Bass  who  was  educated  at  the  collegfe 
in  that  province,  as  a  fit  person  to  be  Schoolmaster 
at  Annapolis,  having  taught  school  for  several  years  past 
with  approbation."  '^ 

"  19  July,  1771.     Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev"^  Mf 

^  Journal,  vol.  xviii.  p.  64.  ^  Hid.^  p.  3C9. 


126  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Bass,  Miss7  at  Newbury  Port,  Massa:  N.  E.  dated  March 
25,  1771.  .  .  . 

"  Agreed  to  recommend  that  some  copies  of  Hart's 
answer  to  Delaune  be  sent  to  M"^.  Bass. 

"  Resolved  to  ao-ree  with  the  Committee."  ^ 

o 
EDWARD   BASS   TO   DR.    BURTON. 

Newbury  Pokt  N.  England,  March  25*!'  1771. 
Rev^  D^,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  eleven 
children.  I  have  nothing  extraordinary  to  write,  but 
only  that  I  am  like  to  have  a  law  suit  with  the  Dis- 
senters who  Hve  around  our  old  church,  Queen  Anne's 
Chapel,  so  called,  where  I  used  to  officiate  one  Sunday 
in  a  month,  but  it  hath  for  some  years  been  unfit  for 
use.  About  a  twelvemonth  ago  the  steeple,  containing 
a  bell  given  by  a  former  Bishop  of  London,  blew  down 
in  a  storm.  My  Antagonists  have  got  said  bell  &  some 
other  things  belonging  to  the  church  in  their  posses- 
sion, &  refuse  to  deliver  them  up,  under  a  pretence 
that  they  have  a  right  to  them  because  some  of  their 
Ancestors  assisted  in  getting  the  frame  of  the  house. 
If  the  Society  will  be  so  kind  as  to  send  me  a  number 
of  Hart's  answer  to  Delaune,  I  shall  be  able  to  dispose 
of  them  to  advantage  in  this  part  of  the  country.  I 
have  drawn  for  my  last  half  years  salary,  which  please 
to  order  paid,  &  you  will  oblige 

Yr  most  obed*  hum^f  serv! 

Edward  Bass. 
To  the  Kev?  Dr  Burton. 

1  Journal,  vol.  xix.  p.  60. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      127 

"  16  July.  1773.  Read  A  letter  from  the  Rev^  M! 
Bass  Miss7  at  Newbury  Port  Massa:  N.  E.  March  25*? 
1773,  acquainting  the  Society  that  since  his  last  he  has 
baptised  14  children,  has  had  some  addition  made  to 
his  Church,  &  buried  several  of  its  principal  Members. 
He  renews  his  request  for  a  number  of  Hart's  Answer 
to  Delaune,  and  of  some  proper  answer  to  the  Dissent- 
ing Gentleman,  which  will  be  of  j)eculiar  service  to  him 
at  this  time. 

"  Agreed  that  M'".  Rivington  be  enquired  of,  whether 
some  Copies  of  Hart's  Answer  to  Delaune.  were  not  sent 
to  M''.  Bass,  agreeably  to  an  Order  of  the  Board  in 
1771. 

"  Resolved  to  agree  with  the  Committee."  ^ 

"  19  Nov"^'  1773.  Read  A  letter  from  the  Rev^  M' 
Bass,  Miss^  at  Newbury  Port,  Massa:  N.  E.  Sep'J  29'? 
1773.  That  since  his  last  he  has  baptised  12  children, 
&  received  2  new  communicants.  He  renews  his  re- 
quest for  a  number  of  Hart's  answer  to  Delaune,  and 
some  proper  answer  to  the  Dissenting  Gentleman,  which 
are  frequently  called  for  by  the  people  around  him. 
He  begs  leave  to  mention  the  Society's  interest  in 
Lands  in  N.  Hampshire  —  Which  if  neglected  much 
longer,  he  thinks  the  Society  may  by  prescription  be 
turned  off  with  lands  of  little  or  no  value.  But  if 
taken  care  of  in  season,  may  produce  a  considerable 
income  soon.  He  knows  of  no  person  so  proper  to  be 
consulted  as  Governor  Wentworth,  who  is  friendly  to 
religion,  and  disposed  to  promote  the  interest  of  the 
Church."  2 

^  Journal,  vol.  xix.  pp.  431,  432.  ^  /jj^/.j  vol.  xx.  p.  18. 


128  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

EDWARD   BASS   TO   DR.   HIND. 

Newbury  Port  N.  England  Sept  29'."  1774 
Rev?  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  nineteen 
children,  and  one  Adult,  a  negro  Woman,  belonging  to 
my  own  parish :  and  eleven  children  in  various  parts  of 
the  province  of  Newhampshire.  I  have  also  received 
two  new  Communicants.  There  being  nothing  material 
to  communicate  concerning  the  state  of  my  church,  I 
have  only  to  add,  that  I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half 
years  salary,  which  please  to  order  paid,  and  you  wiU 
obhge 

Yr  most  obed!  hum^?  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

To  The  Rev'?  Dr  Hind. 

Newbury  Port  New  England,  March  25"'  1775. 
Rev?  Dr,  —  Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  one  Adult 
&  thirteen  children  in  my  own  Parish,  and  one  Adult 
&  three  children  in  the  Province  of  Newhampshire, 
where  there  is  at  present  but  one  Missionary  (Mr  Cossit) 
and  he  in  one  of  the  extremities  of  the  Province.  In 
these  times  of  civil  confusion  my  church  hath  suffer' d 
as  little,  indeed  less,  than  might  have  been  expected, 
considering  the  prevailing  notion  among  us  of  the 
Church  of  England's  too  great  attachment  to  Govern- 
ment. I  have  drawn  for  my  last  half  year's  salary, 
which  please  to  order  paid,  and  you  will  obHge 
Yr  most  obed!  hum'f  Serv! 

Edward  Bass. 

The  Kev?  Dr  Hind. 


THE  CHURCHES  BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION.      129 

EDWARD   BASS   TO    DR.    HIND. 

Newbury  Port  N.  England,  Aug.  15'*"  1775 
Rev?  Dr,  —  I  have  received  your  very  kind  and 
obliging  letter  of  May  3*^,  which  is  the  first  I  have 
had  the  j)leasure  of  receiving  from  you.  Your  Corre- 
spondence, I  am  sensible,  must  be  large  &  extensive, 
and  therefore,  as  you  justly  observe,  no  Missionary  can 
take  it  amiss  if  you  do  not  write  merely  to  acknowledge 
the  Receipt  of  his  Notitia.  Your  letters  will,  however, 
be  extreamly  agreeable  to  me,  whenever  you  shall  be 
able  to  make  it  convenient  to  yourself  to  write.  The 
Society,  you  tell  me,  wish  to  have  an  account  of  the 
Glebe  belonging  to  each  of  their  Missions.  There 
never  was  any  such  thing  provided  for  this  place : 
instead  of  it  the  People  here  allow  me  ten  pounds 
sterling  to  hire  a  House  &  Garden.  You  express  a 
Compassionate  sense  of  the  Distresses  of  your  Ameri- 
can Brethren  :  indeed  their  present  situation  is  enough 
to  excite  the  compassion  of  every  humane  man.  The 
Country  in  general  is  in  great  Distress,  which,  I  doubt, 
is  rather  likely  to  increase  than  otherwise ;  and  the 
Missionaries  will  not  fail  to  have  their  full  share.  For 
my  part,  (not  to  mention  other  things)  having,  very 
nearly,  half  a  year's  salary  due  to  me,  I  have  no  prospect 
of  an  opportunity  to  sell  my  Bill  at  any  rate ;  but  if  an 
opportunity  should  offer,  I  must  sell  at  such  a  loss  as 
I  cannot  afford.  From  the  People  here  I  have  received 
little  or  nothing  for  some  months  past,  &  know  not 
when  I  shall.     God  send  us  better  times. 

I  am  yr  most  obed*  hum'*  Serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

The  Rev"  Dr  Hind. 


130  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   BASS. 

Newbury  Port  N.  England  May  31  1776. 

Rev?  D^,  —  After  having  been  put  to  my  Shifts 
and  run  much  in  debt,  I  have  at  length  an  opportunity 
of  selHng  a  Bill  to  a  very  worthy  Gentleman,  WilHam 
Miller  Esq,  preventive  officer  of  this  Port,  who,  thro' 
the  turbulence  and  infelicity  of  the  times  is  obliged 
to  quit  his  place  and  go  home.  I  need  not  tell  you  of 
the  sad  situation  of  this  Country,  and  that  America  is 
such  a  scene  of  war  and  tumult  as  never  was  known  be- 
fore. I  fear  things  will  grow  worse  and  worse.  God 
bring  them  to  a  speedy  and  a  happy  issue  !  I  stand 
greatly  in  need  of  the  Society's  Counsel  &  advice. 
Since  my  last  I  have  baptized  Thirty  &  two  children 
and  one  Adult,  a  Negro,  and  have  married  six  couple. 
My  Church  hath  suffered  as  little  as  could  be  expected, 
nay,  much  less,  considering  the  nature  of  the  times.  I 
have  drawn  for  one  year's  salary,  which  please  to  order 
paid,  and  you  will  oblige  — 

Yr  most  obed*  hum'^  serv' 

Edwakd  Bass. 

Rkv»  D*  Hind. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    CHURCHES    DURING    THE    REVOLUTION. 

The  English  historian  Lecky  has  paid  a  just  tribute 
to  the  American  loyalists  when  he  refers  to  their  ability 
as  men  and  their  sincerity  as  Tories,  and  their  great- 
ness of  thought  in  striving  for  "  the  maintenance  of 
one  free  industrial  and  pacific  empire,  comprising  the 
whole  English-speaking  race."  ^  That  the  Tories  had 
in  mind  the  strengthening  and  perpetuation  of  a  great 
empire  is  clear  enough  from  their  willingness  to  accept 
submissively  legislation  which  seemed  to  many  of  them 
unjust.  The  Whigs  refused  to  submit  to  the  decrees 
of  the  established  government,  but  even  extreme  par- 
tisans had  little  idea,  previous  to  1776,  of  separating 
absolutely  from  Great  Britain  and  setting  up  an  inde- 
pendent government.  There  were  the  two  well-defined 
attitudes  of  the  great  parties  prior  to  independence, 
both  wilHng  to  recognize  the  British  government,  — 
one  ready  to  accept  its  parliamentary  legislation,  the 
other  refusing  to  accept  that  legislation,  without,  how- 
ever, introducing  the  question  of  the  total  overthrow 
of  British  rule.  The  issue  between  the  two  parties  is 
well  put  by  Sabine  in  his  "  Loyalists  of  the  American 
Revolution :  "  "  The  Whigs  were  willing  to  remain 
colonies,   provided  they   could  have  had  their  rights 

'  History  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,  vol.  iii.  p.  454. 


132  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

secured  to  them ;  while  the  Tories  were  contented  thus 
to  continue,  without  such  security."  ^  John  Adams 
said,  in  confirmation  of  this  alleged  difference  between 
the  two  parties,  that  "  There  was  not  a  moment  during 
the  Revolution,  when  I  would  not  have  given  every- 
thing I  possessed  for  a  restoration  to  the  state  of  things 
before  the  contest  began,  provided  we  could  have  had 
a  sufficient  security  for  its  continuance."  ^  Mr.  John 
Fiske  reiterates  the  same  important  fact:  "No  one 
who  is  familiar  with  the  essential  features  of  American 
political  life  can  for  a  moment  suppose  that  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence  was  brought  about  by  any  less 
weighty  force  than  the  settled  conviction  of  the  people 
that  the  priceless  treasure  of  self-government  could  be 
preserved  by  no  other  means.  It  was  but  slowly  that 
this  unwelcome  conviction  grew  upon  the  people  ;  and 
owing  to  local  differences  of  circumstances  it  grew  more 
slowly  in  some  places  than  in  others."  ^  The  growth  of 
the  idea  of  independence  could  not  be  said  to  have  been 
rapid  and  inevitable  until  England  practically  declared 
war  against  the  colonists  by  passing  in  December,  1775, 
the  "  Prohibitory  Act,"  and  by  sending  over  the  Hes- 
sians, hired  from  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse,  to  reduce 
the  rebellious  state  to  submission.  Lexington  was  a 
revolt  against  an  unjust  government,  but  after  the 
passage  of  the  "  Prohibitory  Act "  the  revolt  became  a 
revolution,  with  its  object  complete  independence,  which 
issued  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

These  stages  in  the  development  of  the  idea  of  inde- 

^  Sabine,  ^mencan  Loyalists,  vol.  i.  p.  64.  ^  Ibid. 

*  J.  Fiske,  The  American  Revolution,  vol.  i.  p.  207,  illustrated  edition. 


THE  CHURCHES   DURING  THE   REVOLUTION.      133 

pendence  must  be  recalled  if  one  desires  to  understand 
the  position  of  the  Tories.  When  they  argued  for 
loyalty  to  the  government,  they  were  not  directly 
antagonizing  what  afterwards  became  the  patriots' 
cause.  The  "  patriots'  cause  "  did  not  completely  exist 
before  1776,  as  the  question  before  this  was  the  accept- 
ance or  non-acceptance  of  certain  legislation  of  the 
government.  There  was  no  public  objection  to  prayers 
for  the  king,  which  were  offered  by  Dr.  Pemberton, 
the  Congregational  minister  in  Boston,  as  well  as  by 
Dr.  Caner,  Rector  of  King's  Chapel.  Governor  Hutch- 
inson, in  his  conversation  with  King  George,  speaks 
of  Dr.  Caner  as  "  a  very  worthy  man  who  frequently 
inculcated  upon  his  hearers  due  subjection  to  the  Gov- 
ernment and  condemns  the  riotous  violent  opposition 
to  it."  *  Many  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  who  delivered 
the  address  to  Governor  Hutchinson  in  1774  felt  that  it 
was  their  duty  to  be  loyal  to  the  existing  government, 
having  taken  vows  of  allegiance  to  its  institutions :  — 

Sir,  —  The  Ministers  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  in 
Boston  and  the  neighboring  Towns,  with  as  many  of  the 
Wardens  as  could  conveniently  attend,  hearing  of  your 
intention  to  embark  in  a  short  time  for  England,  beg 
leave  to  express  our  unfeigned  gratitude  for  your 
generous  attention  and  unwearied  application  to  the 
important  interests  of  this  Province,  in  which  your 
wisdom  and  integrity  have  been  equally  conspicuous. 
If  any  of  our  fellow  citizens  have  viewed  your  Admin- 
istration in  a  less  favorable  light,   we   are   persuaded 

*  Diary  and  Letters  of  Thomas  Hutchinson,  ch.  v. 


134  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

it  must  be  owing  to  some  misapprehension  of  your 
Excellency's  intentions.  But  that  which  falls  more 
immediately  within  our  province,  is  the  regard  you 
have  always  paid  to  the  interests  of  Religion,  and  the 
favourable  notice  you  have  taken  of  the  Church  of 
England  within  your  Government.  Be  pleased,  Sir,  to 
accept  this  sincere  testimony  of  our  Respect  and  Grati- 
tude, together  with  our  earnest  Prayers,  that  the  Divine 
Blessing  may  attend  you,  through  the  remaining  stages 
of  your  life,  and  reward  you  with  an  eternity  of  happi- 
ness in  the  life  to  come.^ 

It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  all  the  Tories  were 
Church  of  England  men.  Numbers  of  them  were 
Congregationalists.  Judge  Curwen's  Journal  abounds 
in  references  to  refugees  in  England  who  were  dissent- 
ers, the  editor  stating,  "  I  have  no  doubt  that  of  the 
Massachusetts  Loyalists  ten  were  of  this  persuasion  and 
one  of  the  Episcopal  Church." 

On  the  other  hand,  when  the  issue  of  Independence 
was  made,  there  were  many  of  the  leading  Episcopa- 
lians who  were  foremost  as  patriots  and  influential  in 
the  formation  of  the  new  government.  The  Rev.  Wil- 
liam White,  afterwards  bishop,  was  the  Chaplain  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  while  it  is  doubtless  a  fact  that 
a  majority  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence were  Episcopalians.^  The  Episcopal  Church 
has   the   honor   of  claiming   as   her    sons  such  noble 

1  Evening  Post,  May  30,  1774. 

2  Updike,  Narragansett  Church,  p.  246.  Also  proved  in  Perry's  pam- 
phlet,  The  Faith  of  the  Signers. 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      135 

Americans  as  Alexander  Hamilton,  Gouverneur  Morris, 
Patrick  Henry,  Marshall,  Madison,  and  Washington. 
Many  of  the  clergy  were  active  in  the  Revolutionary 
movement;  they  were  able  to  see  that  loyalty  to  the 
Church  of  God  was  in  no  wise  dependent  upon  any 
temporary  connection  with  the  English  government. 
They  loved  the  methods  of  the  chui-ch,  her  order  and 
services,  and  they  were  too  intelligent  to  identify  their 
spiritual  interests  with  political  complications.  In  Mas- 
sachusetts, though  the  majority  of  the  clergy  fled  from 
their  parishes,  the  strongest  of  the  laymen  were  patri- 
otic. This  difference  of  opinion  between  the  clergy 
and  their  parishioners  was  emphasized  by  a  dramatic 
incident  at  Christ  Church,  Boston,  on  Easter  Tuesday, 
April  18,  1775,  when,  on  the  evening  of  the  very  day 
that  the  young  Mather  Byles  resigned  the  rectorship  of 
the  parish,  the  signal  lantern  in  the  belfry  started  Paul 
Revere  on  his  midnight  ride  through  Middlesex.^  In 
Newburyport,  William  Atkins  and  Tristram  Dalton 
were  members  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  and  Cor- 
respondence. 

Early  in  1775,  it  being  evident  to  the  clergy  that 
hostilities  might  begin  at  any  time,  Dr.  Caner  had 
prepared  himself  by  asking  for  instructions  from  the 
secretary  of  the  society  in  England  as  to  the  best 
course  for  the  clergy  to  adopt  when  a  state  of  war 
should  exist.  He  wrote  that  "  The  advice  which  that 
letter  contains  I  have  the  pleasure  to  find  is  nearly  the 
same  with  what  I  had  before  given  to  Sundry  Country 

^  Rev.  Henry  Burroughs,  "  Christ  Church,  Boston,"  in  American  Epis- 
copal Church  History,  vol.  i.  p.  585. 


136  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Clergy  who  consulted  me.  I  have  promised  to  notify 
them  if  the  Kings  troops  sho*^  find  it  necessary  to  move 
forward  in  a  hostile  manner  that  they  may  retire  to  this 
town  lest  possibly  they  should  be  seized  as  hostages 
if  no  worse."  ^  This  advice  was  followed  by  many  of 
the  clergy,  but  Edward  Bass  had  made  up  his  mind 
how  he  would  act  when  occasion  required  him  to  decide. 
His  attitude  during  the  Revolution  was  the  result  of  a 
well-defined  policy  which  he  had  adopted  after  most 
serious  thought.  In  June,  1776,  he  had  a  conversation 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  in  which  he  stated  what  he 
intended  to  do.  Mr.  Clark  says,  "  We  soon  entered 
into  Conversation  on  the  difficulties  the  Clergy  of  the 
Church  of  England  were  exposed  to  by  the  Rebellion 
when  I  was  a  little  surprised  to  find  him  differ  in  opinion 
from  the  united  sentiments  of  the  clergy  of  that  province 
(except  Mr.  Parker  of  Boston)  on  the  conduct  that  was 
proper  for  us  to  adopt  if  we  should  be  required  by  the 
Rebel  authority  to  omit  the  prayers  for  the  Kings 
Majesty.  ...  I  remember  that  he  spoke  his  mind  to 
be  for  compliance  with  the  people  in  all  omissions  that 
they  should  require  in  order  to  keep  up  public  Worship, 
using  the  vulgar  proverb,  'Half  a  Loaf  was  better  than 
no  bread.'  He  also  observed  that  the  Episcopal  Clergy 
in  the  time  of  the  Grand  Rebellion  in  England  did  the 
same."  ^  This  plan,  which  Bass  outlined  to  his  friend 
Clark,  was  carried  out  to  the  very  letter  when  the  times 
demanded  it. 

Immediately  after  Concord  and  Lexington,  the  church 

^  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  579. 
2  Ibid.,  p.  612. 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.       137 

to  feel  first  the  effects  of  the  Revolution  was  Christ 
Church,  Cambridge.  Its  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sar- 
gent, had  to  flee  for  his  life,  his  church  building  being 
taken  as  barracks  for  the  company  of  Captain  Chester, 
of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut.  The  organ-pipes  were 
melted  into  bullets,  and  the  sacred  edifice  was  defaced 
by  the  inconsiderate  soldiers.  A  service,  however,  of 
special  interest  was  held  in  it  on  the  last  day  of  the 
year  1775,  when,  "  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Washington, 
Col  W™  Palfrey  performed  Divine  service  at  the  church 
at  Cambridge."  ^ 

This  interesting  service  in  which  General  Washing- 
ton participated  was  one  of  the  earliest  incidents  to 
show  that  in  the  minds  of  the  wisest  churchmen  the 
Prayer-Book  services  were  no  longer  identified  with 
loyalty  to  the  English  government.  The  simple  change 
here  made  when  Colonel  Palfrey  "  read  the  service  and 
made  a  prayer  of  a  form  different  from  that  commonly 
used  for  the  King  "  was  prophetic  of  the  larger  changes 
that  were  to  be  made  when  the  Episcopal  Church  was 
to  become  a  complete  and  independent  American  insti- 
tution. This  special  service  in  Christ  Church,  Cam- 
bridge, is  described  in  the  most  interesting  imaginary 
diary  of  Miss  Dorothy  Dudley :  "  General  and  INIrs. 
Washington,  Mrs.  Gates,  Mrs.  Morgan,  Mrs.  Mifllin, 
Mrs.  Custis,  and  many  others,  including  officers,  were 
present.  The  general  is  loyal  to  his  church  as  to  his 
country.  .  .  .  There  was  something  grand  and  yet 
incongruous  in  the  service  in  this  church,  which  has  so 
lately  sheltered  the  rollicking  soldiers.     Doors  shattered 

^  Hoppin  in  American  Episcopal  Church  History,  vol.  i.  p.  591. 


138  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

and  windows  broken  out,  organ  destroyed,  and  the  ele- 
gance and  beauty  of  the  building  greatly  marred.  It 
had  been  imperfectly  repaired  at  the  request  of  one 
whom  its  former  aristocratic  worshippers  hold  in  su- 
preme contempt  as  a  rebel  against  His  Majesty's  most 
righteous  rule.  How  different  was  the  scene  from  that 
in  the  days  before  the  war.  The  general's  majestic 
figure,  bent  reverently  in  prayer,  as  with  devout  earnest- 
ness he  entered  into  the  service ;  the  smallness  of  the 
band  of  worshippers,  and  the  strangeness  of  the  circum- 
stances and  the  surroundings.  There  was  nothing  but 
the  contrast  to  recall  the  wealth  and  fashion  which  were 
wont  to  congregate  there."  ^  After  this  the  church 
was  neglected  for  fifteen  years,  its  doors  being  broken 
down,  and  its  windows  shattered. 

There  was  consternation  among  some  of  the  other 
clergy :  Weeks,  of  Marblehead,  accompanied  by  his 
family,  left  his  parish,  and  Wiswall,  of  Falmouth,  was 
taken  prisoner,  but  escaped  to  Boston,  leaving  his  fam- 
ily behind  him.  The  other  ministers  remained  at  their 
posts  for  a  time,  but  when  the  British  troops  evacuated 
Boston,  Dr.  Caner,  of  King's  Chapel,  embarked  on  one 
of  the  ships  that  bore  them  away ;  Dr.  Walter,  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  followed  his  example.  Caner  speaks  thus 
of  his  flight :  "  I  continued  to  officiate  to  the  small  re- 
mains of  my  parishioners,  though  without  a  support  till 
the  10*^  of  March  (1776)  when  I  suddenly  and  unex- 
pectedly received  notice  that  the  kings  troops  would 
immediately  evacuate  the  town.     It  is  not  easy  to  paint 

1  Published  by  the  Ladies'  Centennial  Committee  in  The  Cambridge 
of  1776. 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      139 

the  distress  and  confusion  of  the  inhabitants  on  this 
occasion.  I  had  but  six  or  seven  hours  allowed  to  pre- 
pare for  this  measure,  being  obliged  to  embark  the  same 
day  for  Hahfax  where  we  arrived  the  1^'  of  April.  This 
sudden  movement  prevented  me  from  saving  my  books, 
furniture,  or  any  part  of  my  interest,  except  bedding, 
wearing  apparel  and  a  little  provision  for  my  small  fam- 
ily during  the  passage."  ^ 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow,  of  Braintree,  continued  to 
hold  services  until  January  1,  1777,  but  as  he  insisted 
upon  using  the  prayers  for  the  king,  he  was  arrested 
and  brought  before  the  court.  "  When  I  was  admitted 
to  audience,"  he  says,  "  I  found  a  magistrate,  a  dissent- 
ing minister  and  about  ten  or  twelve  coadjutors  con- 
vened. The  magistrate  having  a  Common  Prayer  Book, 
recited  to  me  the  petition  in  the  Litany  and  then  the 
two  prayers  in  the  Evening  Service  for  the  King  and 
royal  family,  and  told  me  they  alleged  against  me  the 
using  of  these  prayers."  ^  After  this  examination  he 
was  pronounced  "  a  contumacious  fomenter  of  aliena- 
tion and  an  avowed  enemy  of  the  country."  Rev.  Mr. 
Clark,  of  Dedham,  had  his  house  ransacked,  was  arrested, 
denied  counsel  and  condemned  to  banishment  and 
confiscation  of  his  estates.  Before  he  was  transported, 
he  passed  ten  weeks  in  jail,  on  the  walls  of  the  cell  of 
which,  much  to  his  disturbance,  there  hung  a  portrait 
of  Cromwell.  Others  of  the  clergy  like  Mr.  Greaves, 
of  Rhode  Island,  shut  up  their  churches,  but  continued 
to  baptize  children,  visit  their  sick,  bury  their  dead, 

*  Hawkins,  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  247. 
2  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  695. 


140  LIFE   OF   BISHOP   BASS. 

and  frequent  the  respective  houses  of  their  parishioners 
with  the  same  freedom  as  usual.  The  only  clergyman 
who  died  was  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  of  Scituate,  his 
death  being  due,  it  was  freely  said,  to  "  some  uncivil 
treatment  from  the  Rebels  in  his  neighborhood." 

During  the  long  period  of  the  Revolution,  however, 
from  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to  the  Treaty  of 
Peace  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  in 
1783,  the  two  clergymen  of  the  Episcopal  Church  who 
stand  out  in  bold  relief  in  Massachusetts  history  are  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  of  Trinity  Church,  Boston,  and  the 
Rev.  Edward  Bass,  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport. 
They  both  remained  in  their  parishes,  and  faithfully 
ministered  to  their  people  during  the  prolonged  strug- 
gle. Their  attitude  is  in  marked  contrast  with  that  of 
the  other  ministers,  who  deserted  their  posts,  not  being 
large-minded  enough  to  realize  the  significance  of  the 
struggle  and  the  need  at  all  hazards  of  maintaining  the 
services  of  their  churches,  not  merely  as  clergymen  of 
the  Church  of  England,  but  as  ministers  in  the  Church 
of  God,  that  larger  universal  church  which  is  independ- 
ent of  all  human  conditions. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Parker  was  the  assistant  minister  on  the  Greene  Foun- 
dation at  Trinity  Church,  serving  under  the  rector,  the 
Rev.  William  Walter.  He  was  a  young  man,  only 
thirty-two  years  of  age,  born  in  1744  in  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  his  father  being  the  Hon.  William 
Parker,  an  eminent  lawyer  and  judge.  After  graduat- 
ing from  Harvard  College  in  1764,  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school   in    Roxbury.     When  he  decided  to  take 


THE  CHURCHES   DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.     141 

orders  in  the  churcli,  he  pursued  his  theological  studies, 
both  at  his  home  in  Portsmouth  and  in  Newburyport, 
where,  under  the  guidance  of  Bass,  he  studied,  laying  at 
the  same  time  the  foundations  of  a  lifelong  friendship 
with  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  Bass  and  Parker,  who  together  were  to 
exercise  so  important  an  influence  on  the  church  in 
Massachusetts,  were  companions  in  their  studies,  the 
older  man  doubtless  impressing  upon  the  younger  his 
scholarly  and  amiable  personahty.  Parker  was  ordained 
in  En^-land  in  1774:.  He  therefore  had  been  in  his 
position  of  assistant  minister  only  a  very  short  time 
when  he  was  called  upon  to  assume  the  duties  of  rector 
of  Trinity  Church,  Dr.  Walter  having  fled  from  his 
parish.  Parker  continued  to  use  the  Prayer-Book  un- 
changed until  after  Independence  had  been  declared. 
Then,  the  services  of  the  church  being  interrupted  by 
noisy  demonstrations,  he  communicated  to  the  vestry 
the  fact  of  his  inability  to  continue  unless  certain 
changes  were  made  in  the  prayers.  To  this  request  of 
Mr.  Parker,  the  wardens  and  vestry  of  Trinity  Church 
responded  by  taking  the  following  important  action  :  — 

"  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Minister  Wardens  &  Vestry 
of  Trinity  Church  on  Thursday  the  18  Day  of  July 
1776 

"  The  Rev**  M'  Parker  informed  the  Wardens  &  Ves- 
try that  he  could  not  with  Safety  perform  the  Service  of 
the  Church  for  the  future ;  as  the  Continental  Congress 
had  declared  the  American  Provinces  free  and  inde- 
pendent States,  had  absolved  them  from  all  Allegiance 
to  the  British  Crown  and  had  dissolved  all  pohtical 


142  "LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Connection  between  them  &  the  Realm  of  England  — 
That  he  was  publickly  interrupted  the  Lords  Day  pre- 
ceeding  when  reading  the  Prayers  in  the  Liturgy  of 
the  Church  for  the  King,  &  had  received  many  Threats 
&  Menaces  that  he  would  be  interrupted  &  insulted 
in  future  if  the  Prayers  for  the  King  should  be  again 
read  in  the  Church ;  &  that  he  was  apprehensive  some 
Damage  would  accrue  to  the  Proprietors  of  the  Church 
if  the  Service  was  in  future  carried  on  as  had  been 
usual  —  and  therefore  desired  their  Counsel  &  Advice 
—  Wherefore  the  said  Wardens  &  Vestry  taking  the 
matter  into  consideration  after  maturely  debating 
thereon,  it  appeared  evident  that  the  Temper  and 
Spirit  of  the  People  in  this  Town  was  such  that  they 
would  not  suffer  any  Prayers  for  the  King  to  be  pub- 
lickly read  in  divine  Service,  &  that  there  was  no  other 
Alternative  but  either  to  shut  up  the  Church  &  have 
no  public  Worship  ;  or  to  omit  that  Part  of  the  Liturgy 
wherein  the  King  is  prayed  for.  And  as  there  are 
many  persons  of  the  Episcopal  Persuasion  who  cannot 
conscientiously  attend  the  Worship  of  Dissenters,  &  to 
whom  it  would  be  a  great  Detriment  &  Grief  of  Mind 
to  have  no  Place  where  they  can  attend  the  Worship  of 
God  according  to  their  Consciences ;  The  Wardens  & 
Vestry  conclude  that  it  would  be  more  for  the  Interest 
&  Cause  of  Episcopacy  &  the  least  Evil  of  the  two  to 
omit  Part  of  the  Liturgy  than  to  shut  up  the  Church. 
And  hoping  in  this  sad  Alternative  it  will  not  be 
imputed  to  them  as  a  Fault  or  construed  as  a  Want 
of  Affection  for  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church,  if  under 
these  Circumstances  they  omit  that  Part  of  it  in  which 


THE  CHURCHES   DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      143 

the  King  is  mentioned.  Therefore  Voted  That  the 
Rev^  M'  Parker  the  present  Minister  of  this  Church  be 
desired  to  continue  officiating-,  &  that  he  be  requested 
to  omit  that  Part  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  which 
relates  to  the  King  &  that  the  Omissions  be  as  follows 
—  In  the  Petitions  &  Responses  after  the  Lords  Prayer 
in  the  Morning  &  Evening  Service,  the  following  be 
wholly  omitted,  0  Lord  save  the  King,  and  mercifully 
hear  us  when  we  call  upon  thee.  The  two  Prayers  for 
the  Eangs  Majesty  &  the  Royal  Family  in  the  Morn- 
ing &  Evening  Service  be  omitted,  &  that  the  Prayer 
for  the  whole  Estate  of  Christ's  church  militant  be 
used  at  Evening  Prayer  instead  of  the  three  Prayers 
for  the  King,  Royal  Family  &  Clergy,  omitting  these 
words  of  it.  Aiid  es2Jecially  thy  Servant  George  our 
King,  that  under  him  we  may  he  godly  and  quietly 
governed,  unto  his  whole  Counsel  and  to  all  that  are 
put  in  Authority  under  him.  That  the  IS**",  16*^^, 
17*^  19*  &  20*,  Petitions  of  the  Litany  &  the  Collects 
in  the  Communion  Service  for  the  King  be  omitted,  & 
that  no  other  Alterations  be  made,  nor  any  additions 
be  substituted."  ^ 

The  changes  in  the  liturgy  of  Trinity  Church  were 
among  the  earliest  signs  that  the  independence  of  the 
colonies  was  also  to  bring  about  the  independence  of 
the  church,  and  that  upon  the  remains  of  the  English 
Church,  as  upon  the  ruins  of  the  British  government, 
there  was  to  be  built  the  American  Episcopal  Church. 
Perhaps  Parker  did  not  reaHze  at  the  time  the  signifi- 
cance of  the  changes  he  had  made  any  more  than  the 

^  Records  of  Trinity  Church,  Boston. 


144  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  realized 
what  was  to  be  the  future  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  but  up  to  his  Hght  he  was  acting  in  a  spirit 
of  loyalty  to  his  parishioners,  who  by  his  wisdom  were 
to  have  the  uninterrupted  services  of  worship  during 
the  long  period  of  the  struggle  for  freedom. 

Parker,  by  remaining  in  Boston,  was  the  means  of 
not  only  ministering  to  his  own  people,  but  to  others 
throughout  the  city  and  neighboring  towns.  When 
the  American  government  gave  permission  in  1778  to 
the  French  congregation  to  use  Christ  Church,  which 
had  been  closed  since  1775,  Parker  opened  it  on  Sun- 
day afternoons,  preaching  to  the  people  there,  thus 
keeping  that  venerable  structure  as  a  place  where  the 
Prayer-Book  was  used. 

The  following  letter,  written  by  Parker  to  the  sec- 
retary of  the  Venerable  Society  in  England,  gives  an 
excellent  account  of  the  condition  of  the  parishes  dur- 
ing the  Revolution,  and  the  part  he  played  in  caring 
for  them :  — 

ME.   PARKER   TO   REV.    WILLIAM  MORICE. 

Boston,  New  England,  January  9, 1781. 

Rev'd  Sir,  —  Tho'  unknown  to  you  &  perhaps  to 
most  of  the  venerable  Society,  I  think  it  is  a  Duty 
incumbent  upon  me  to  acquaint  that  venerable  Body 
of  the  State  of  their  Missions  in  this  &  the  neighbor- 
ing Provinces,  especially  as  there  are  scarce  any  of  the 
Society's  Missionaries  now  resident  here,  at  least  none 
that  have  so  good  an  opportunity  of  acquainting  them- 
selves with  the  State  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  this 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      145 

Country  as  myself.  My  Situation  in  the  principal  Sea- 
port of  this  Province  has  naturally  led  the  few  of  the 
Society's  Missionaries  that  remain  here  to  transact  their 
Business  with  the  Society  thro  my  hands,  the  Mode 
of  Communication  being-  attended  with  many  Difficul- 
ties. At  the  Evacuation  of  the  Town  of  Boston  by 
the  British  Forces  in  March  1776  all  the  Clergy  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  this  town  &  some  others  who 
had  taken  Refuge  (myself  excepted)  accompanied  the 
King's  Troops,  &  I  sh'd  also  have  been  of  their  Num- 
ber, but  being  the  youngest,  it  fell  to  my  Lot  to  tary 
behind,  &  endeavor  in  those  Times  of  Confusion  to 
continue  the  Worship  of  the  Episcopal  Church  among 
those  loyal  Inhabitants  whose  Circumstances  would  not 
admite  of  their  leaving  the  Town.  I  was  then  as 
Assistant  to  the  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  having 
obtained  Priests  Orders  from  the  Bishop  of  London 
but  a  few  Months  before  Boston  was  blockaded.  As 
the  Motive  of  my  continuing  here  was  purely  an  Inten- 
tion to  preserve  the  Worship  of  the  Church  of  England, 
I  have  ever  since  kept  that  End  in  View  &  have  thro' 
the  Blessing  of  him  who  is  the  great  head  of  the 
Chh  in  some  Measure  hitherto  accomplished  that  End 
tho'  not  in  that  compleat  Manner  I  could  wish.  The 
Question  was  long  agitated  in  my  own  Mind  whh  would 
be  most  expedient  or  eventually  promote  the  Interest  of 
the  Chh,  to  omit  the  Prayers  in  the  Liturgy  for  the 
King  &  royal  Family  or  to  shut  up  my  Church  &  have 
no  public  Worship.  There  was  no  other  Alternative 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  At  length  at 
the  earnest  Request  of  the  Parishioners  I  reluctantly 


146  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

consented  to  the  former,  &  by  that  Means,  without 
making  any  Additions  or  Aherations  in  the  Liturgy, 
(the  Omissions  above  mentioned  excepted)  I  have  not 
only  kept  my  own  People  together,  but  there  have  been 
great  Accessions  to  the  Chh.  Whether  in  the  Deter- 
mination of  this  Point  I  shall  meet  with  the  Approba- 
tion of  my  Superiors  in  the  Church,  I  am  uncertain  but 
considering  the  disagreeable  Dilemma  we  were  reduced 
to,  we  cannot  but  hope  our  Conduct  will  be  viewed 
with  Candour,  &  the  Error  (if  such  it  is)  imputed  to 
the  Head  &  not  to  the  Heart.  This  prolix  Account 
of  myself  may  appear  to  savour  of  Egotism  &  need 
an  Apology.  But  as  I  am  utterly  unknown  to  that 
venerable  Body  to  whom  I  am  addressing  myself,  I 
thought  proper  they  sh'd  be  acquainted  with  my  Cir- 
cumstances &  Conduct.  My  principal  View  in  this 
Letter  is  to  inform  the  Society  of  the  State  of  some  of 
their  Missions  in  this  Country.  The  Churches  at  Scitu- 
ate  &  Marshfield  where  the  late  Rev'd  Mr  Thompson 
was  the  Society's  worthy  Missionary  are  strongly  at- 
tached to  the  Chh  of  England  &  immoveable  in  their 
Loyalty  to  their  Sovereign.  They  have  most  of  them 
suffered  greatly  in  their  Persons  &  Estates  for  their 
Adherence  to  Government,  wlih  has  rather  tended  to 
increase  than  diminish  their  Loyalty.  Mr  Thompson's 
Death  was  imputed  to  the  unkind  &  hard  Usage  he 
met  with  from  the  Com'tees.  He  has  left  a  Widow  & 
seven  Daughters  in  distressed  Circumstances  without 
any  Estate  for  their  Support.  At  the  earnest  Request 
of  those  Churches  I  have  undertaken  to  visit  them  at 
least  four  times  in  a  year  &  have  for  more  than  two 


THE   CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      147 

years  past  preached  to  tliem  as  often  as  my  other  Duties 
would  admit,  have  constantly  when  there  administered 
the  Lord's  Supper  to  between  thirty  &  forty  Communi- 
cants &  have  at  different  Times  baptized  about  40  In- 
fants. Was  there  a  Missionary  appointed  there,  there 
would  doubtless  be  great  Additions  to  those  Churches. 
The  Church  at  Scituate  meet  every  Lord's  Day  &  have 
the  Service  &  a  Sermon  read  by  one  of  their  Number 
whose  Name  is  Ellis.  The  Churches  at  Bridgewater 
&  Braintree  I  have  also  frequently  officiated  at  since  the 
late  Rev'd  Mr  Winslow  left  them.  The  latter  continue 
to  meet  every  Sunday  &  the  Service  is  performed  by 
Mr  Cleverly.  The  Churches  at  Stoughton  &  Dedham 
have  but  few  of  their  Number  now  remaining  &  those 
of  the  latter  commonly  attend  at  Boston. 

The  People  at  Salem  since  the  Death  of  the  Revd  Mr 
Mc Gilchrist  have  opened  their  Chh  &  employed  a  Gent: 
of  an  unexceptionably  good  Character  whose  Name  is 
Steward  &  who  has  been  a  dissenting  Preacher  to  read 
the  Service  &  a  Sermon  &  have  a  very  decent  Congre- 
gation ;  &  at  Marblehead  also  the  Service  is  performed 
by  a  Layman.  Both  these  Churches  I  occasionally 
visit  to  baptize  their  Children  &  administer  the  Lord's 
Supper.  The  Number  of  Communicants  about  thirty 
in  each.  The  People  at  Portsmo'  New  Hampshire  have 
repaired  the  Church  in  that  Place  whh  had  suffered 
great  Delapidations  from  the  Rage  of  the  Times  & 
have  also  employed  a  young  Gentleman  by  the  Name 
of  Adams,  who  was  educated  at  Dartmo'  College  to 
read  the  Service  &  a  Sermon  &  have  a  decent  Con- 
gregation.    While  I  am  mentioning  the  State  of  the 


148  LIFE   OF   BISHOP  BASS. 

Churches  to  the  Eastward  of  this  Town,  I  would  beg 
leave  to  take  notice  of  the  Misfortune  of  the  Rev'd 
Mr  Bass  of  Newburyport  in  being  dismissed  from  the 
Society's  Service,  whh  I  apprehend  must  have  been 
owing  to  some  Misrepresentations  respect'g  that  worthy 
Gent :  Scarce  a  Person  in  New  England  has  supported 
a  more  uniform  loyal  Character  &  Conduct  since  the 
Commencement  of  the  unhappy  Revolt  than  he.  His 
Attachment  to  the  Laws  &  Constitution  of  England 
both  in  Church  &  State  has  drawn  upon  him  the 
Resentm't  of  the  disaffected,  &  he  has  suffered  much 
for  his  Loyalty.  He  has  indeed  omitted  the  Prayers 
for  his  Majesty  &  royal  Family  in  public,  but  this  he 
did  from  Compulsion  &  not  from  Choice.  This,  he 
apprehends  could  not  be  the  Reason  of  the  Society's 
discontinuing  him  in  their  Service,  but  some  unfavour- 
able Reports  whh  he  has  reason  to  think  were  not  only 
untrue  but  malicious.  Christ  Church  in  this  Town  is 
now  supplied  with  a  Clergyman  who  was  deputy  Chap- 
lain to  Gen'l  Burgoyne's  Regim't  of  light  Dragoons 
&  made  Prisoner  here  about  three  years  ago.  He  was 
detained  in  Captivity  about  a  year,  was  then  exchanged 
&  went  to  N  York ;  from  thence  in  August  1778  came 
to  this  Town  &  offered  to  take  the  Oath  of  Allegiance 
to  the  United  States.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he 
was  employed  to  preach  at  that  Chh  &  has  since  made 
such  Alterations  in  the  Liturgy  as  to  accomodate  to  the 
present  Rulers.  This  no  other  Episcopal  Clergyman  in 
the  New  England  Provinces  has  done.  His  Name  is 
Stephen  Lewis  &  is  a  Native  of  England.  The  Church 
at  Cambridge  is  forsaken  by  most  of  its  Members  as 


THE  CHURCHES   DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      149 

well  as  its  Missionary.  The  few  that  are  left  usually 
attend  at  Boston.  Among  the  Rev'd  Mr  Sarjeant's  Ef- 
fects whh  I  had  the  care  of  at  his  leaving  this  Country 
were  a  Number  of  Books  in  whh  was  written,  belong- 
ing to  the  Missionaries  Library  at  Cambridge  ;  these  I 
have  now  in  safe  keeping  for  the  Society's  Use  either 
for  that  or  any  other  Mission  they  shall  appoint,  &  will 
deliver  them  to  their  Order.  I  also  received  &  gave  a 
Receipt  to  the  Rev'd  Mr  Sarjeant  for  the  Plate  belong'g 
to  that  Church  contain'g  112  Ounces.  It  was  deposited 
in  my  Hands  by  that  Gent:  as  Security  for  an  Arrear- 
age in  his  Salary  for  the  Year  1774.  Whether  Chh 
Plate  is  the  Property  of  the  Society  or  the  People  or  is 
subject  to  an  Attachm't  for  Debt  due  from  the  People, 
I  leave  to  the  Determination  of  the  Society  &  wish  to 
know  their  Sentiments  respecting  this  Matter.  The 
Churches  at  Providence  &  So'  Kingston  in  Rhode  Island 
Colony  are  all  shut  up.  Mr  Fayerweather,  the  Society's 
Missionary  at  So'  Kingston  has  lately  written  to  the 
Society  &  from  his  Letter  they  will  be  informed  of  the 
State  of  his  Mission.  I  am  informed  the  Chh  at  New- 
port is  made  use  of  by  the  Baptists  who  meet  in  it 
every  Sunday.  The  Rev'd  Mr  Cossit  Missionary  at 
Claremont  &  Haverhill  has  lately  been  in  this  Town 
&  has  written  to  the  Society.  His  Letter  I  have  the 
Honour  to  forward  by  this  Opportunity.  I  have  also 
purchased  his  two  Setts  of  Bills  drawn  upon  the 
Society's  Treasurer  one  of  .£65  the  other  of  £17.  10 
St'g  the  last  of  these  Bills  I  shall  also  forward  by  this 
Opportunity,  the  other  I  cannot  at  present  dispose  of 
with't  great  loss.     The  Society  are  vested  with  a  Right 


150  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

of  Land  g't  112  Acres  in  the  Town  of  Hopkinston 
about  thirty  Miles  from  Boston  whh  was  purchased  in 
the  Society's  Name  by  the  Rev'd  Mr  Price  a  former 
Missionary  there.  There  is  now  but  one  family  in  that 
Town  that  profess  to  be  of  the  Chh  of  Engl'd  &  they 
of  no  Note.  The  Chh  whh  is  also  the  Property  of  the 
Society  has  been  converted  into  a  Dwell'g  House  &  the 
Land  whh  is  well  timbered  &  very  valuable  has  been 
wrongfully  entered  upon  &  great  Strip  &  Waste  made 
thereon.  As  there  was  no  Person  here  empowered  by 
the  Society  to  take  Care  of  &  prevent  Damage  accruing 
to  it,  I  have  taken  Advantage  of  a  Law  lately  made 
here  giving  Power  to  the  Judges  of  Probate  to  appoint 
Agents  to  take  Care  of  the  Estates  of  the  Persons 
absent  &  have  obtained  the  Agency  for  all  the  Soci- 
ety's Lands  in  this  Province  &  have  commenced  a  Suit 
ag'st  four  Men  for  cutting  &  destroy'g  the  Wood  & 
committ'g  Waste  upon  this  Land.  This  Suit  is  now 
pending  in  the  Courts  here,  whether  I  shall  recover 
Damages  is  yet  uncertain,  but  as  I  have  taken  Pos- 
session of  the  Land  in  the  Society's  Name,  I  shall  be 
able  to  prevent  for  the  future  any  Damage  accruing 
to  the  Land  &  reserve  it  for  the  Society's  Use  This 
Land  is  subject  to  a  quit  Rent  of  £1  St'g  pr  Acre  pr 
Ann.  to  Harvard  College  &  several  Years  now  due. 
This  &  the  Expense  of  the  Action  already  commenced 
I  shall  advance  for  the  Society,  till  they  take  some 
Order  respect'g  it.  I  hope  my  Conduct  will  meet  with 
their  Approbation. 

Thus  Sir  I  have  taken  the  Liberty  of  writing  to  you 
for  the  Society's  Information  as  exact  a  State  of  their 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      151 

Missions  &  Affairs  here  as  I  could,  &  I  think  I  may 
safely  add  that  the  Prejudices  of  the  People  of  this 
Country  ag'st  the  Chh  have  so  far  subsided  that  could 
the  several  Churches  be  supplied  with  Ministers,  there 
is  no  doubt  that  it  would  increase  &  flourish  to  a 
Degree  it  has  never  yet  arrived  to.  As  this  Letter  is 
intended  to  be  entirely  confidential,  I  must  beg  the 
Society  not  to  publish  from  whom  the  Information 
comes,  &  if  any  thing  here  said  is  so  far  worthy  of 
Notice  as  to  have  any  Order  past  thereupon,  I  shall 
esteem  myself  happy  in  executing  their  Commands, 
and  promoting  their  Interest  to  the  utmost  of  my 
Power. 

I  have  the  Honour  to  be  Sir  yours  &  the 
Society's  most  obed't  humble  Serv't 

S  Parker. 

Rev'd  Wm  Morice  Secretary. 

When  Dr.  Caner  left  Boston,  the  services  in  King's 
Chapel  were  discontinued,  but  the  proprietors  endeav- 
ored to  persuade  Parker  to  abandon  his  services  at 
Trinity,  so  that  regular  worship  could  be  held  in  King's 
Chapel,  all  the  Episcopalians  in  the  place  uniting  in 
this  parish,  because  as  the  proprietors  wrote  to  the 
authorities  of  Trinity :  "  King's  Chapel  by  being  situ- 
ated nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  Town  will  accomodate 
each  Church  better  than  either  of  the  other  Churches 
would."  ^  The  wardens  of  Trinity  answered  in  the 
negative,  stating  their  objections  to  this  plan :  "  We 
feel  ourselves  disposed  from  all  the  Ties  of  Christian 
Fellowship  to  accomodate  you  so  far  as  hes   in  our 

*  Records  of  Trinity  Church,  Boston. 


152  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Power  &  sincerely  wish  to  join  in  Communion  with  you. 
But  the  Shutting  up  our  own  Church  &  removing  our 
stated  Place  of  Worship  would  be  attended  with  so 
much  Inconvenience  to  Individuals ;  &  as  we  apprehend 
Detriment  to  ourselves  as  a  Society  that  we  hope  we 
shall  not  be  judged  by  you  as  chargeable  with  a  Breach 
of  the  Laws  of  Christian  Charity  &  Kindness,  if  we 
refuse  to  comply  with  your  request "  ^ 

King's  Chapel  was  opened  for  an  impressive  service 
on  April  8,  1776,  when  the  last  burial  rites  were  per- 
formed for  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  whose  body  was  taken 
from  his  temporary  soldier-grave  on  Bunker  Hill,  and 
his  memory  fittingly  honored  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cooper  in 
his  prayer  and  Perez  Morton,  Esq.,  in  his  "  ingenious 
and  spirited  oration."  The  church  was  not  opened 
again  until  1777,  when  the  congregation  from  "  the 
Old  South  "  used  the  edifice  for  weekly  services  during 
the  repairs  in  the  old  time-honored  meeting-house, 
made  necessary  by  the  use  to  which  it  had  been  put 
by  British  soldiers  as  a  riding-school  for  Burgoyne's 
cavalry.  The  repairs  were  not  promptly  attended  to, 
so  "  the  Old  South  "  people  continued  to  use  King's 
Chapel  until  1783.  When  they  left,  the  wardens  of 
the  chapel  sent  to  them  an  amicable  note,  saying  "  that 
they  esteem  themselves  happy  in  having  had  it  in  their 
power  to  accomodate  them  with  a  place  of  Worship, 
agreeable  to  their  liking,  when  they  had  been  so  wan- 
tonly &  cruelly  deprived  of  their  own."  ^ 

Practically  the  same  omissions  as  those  made  in  the 

^  Records  of  Trinity  Church,  Boston. 

2  Foote,  Annals  of  King^s  Chapel,  vol.  ii.  p.  335. 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      153 

Prayer-Book  at  Trinity  were  made  by  Bass  in  Newbury- 
port.  After  Independence  was  declared,  Bass,  having 
outlined  his  policy  months  before  to  Mr.  Clark,  decided 
to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  his  parishioners  in  order 
to  keep  his  church  open  for  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God.  He  intended  to  stand  aloof  from  the  political 
conditions  of  the  time,  not  airing  his  own  views,  nor 
indeed  taking  any  public  part  in  the  discussions  or 
events  of  the  Revolution,  but  rather  emphasizing  the 
spiritual  character  of  his  work  as  a  minister  of  Christ. 
His  position  was  a  pecuHar  one.  He  was  a  missionary 
of  a  foreign  society  connected  with  the  English  Church 
and  the  British  government,  but  he  was  also  the  spirit- 
ual guide  of  many  men  and  women  whom  he  loved,  and 
to  whom  he  had  stood  in  the  sacred  relations  of  min- 
ister and  pastor  for  almost  twenty-five  years.  A  poUti- 
cal  revolution  was  in  progress,  which  was  to  decide 
the  political  relations  between  England  and  America. 
There  were  two  courses  for  him  to  pursue,  either  to 
flee  from  his  parish,  as  the  other  ministers  had  done, 
and  destroy  the  religious  influence  which  he  had  built 
up  during  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  wreck  his  church 
and  aU  that  pertained  to  it ;  or,  without  doing  any  overt 
act  of  disloyalty  to  the  English  king  or  church,  con- 
tinue quietly  in  his  parish  abiding  the  issues  of  war. 
This  latter  course  he  adopted ;  and  by  reason  of  his 
action  he  kept  his  church  open  uninterruptedly  during 
the  Revolution,  and  at  the  end  of  it  his  parish  was 
strong  and  able  to  take  a  prominent  part  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  American  Episcopal  Church.  If  many 
of  the  other  ministers  in  Massachusetts  had  done  the 


154  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

same  thing,  and  placed  their  religious  duties  above 
the  political  ones,  the  scattered  missions  and  churches 
would  not  have  dwindled  away,  and  in  many  instances 
ceased  to  exist.  From  the  American  standpoint,  the 
attitude  of  Bass  was  the  wisest  on  all  accounts,  while 
of  course  from  the  English  standpoint,  viz.,  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  society,  unfortunately  not  being  able  to  dis- 
connect loyalty  to  the  government  and  loyalty  to  the 
church,  his  course  seemed  reprehensible. 

Ten  days  after  the  promulgation  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  he  received  the  following  letter  from 
his  wardens  and  vestry :  — 

July  14,  1776. 

Rev.  Sir,  —  The  representatives  of  the  United  Colo- 
nies in  America  having  in  Congress  declared  said  Colo- 
nies free  and  independent  States,  and  disavowed  all 
allegiance  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain  —  and  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Churches  to  which  we  belong,  prescribing 
certain  prayers,  and  so  forth,  to  be  used  for  said  King 
and  his  government,  we  find  ourselves  under  the  neces- 
sity of  requesting  you  to  omit,  in  your  use  of  the  ser- 
vice, all  prayers,  collects  or  suffrages  which  relate  to 
the  King,  royal  family,  or  government  of  Great  Britain, 
both  as  we  would  avoid  very  great  inconsistency,  and 
as  we  value  the  welfare  of  the  Church,  being  assured 
that  without  such  omission  the  existence  thereof  would 
immediately  cease 

With  great  respect  and  esteem. 

We  are,  Rev.  Sir,  your  most  obed't  servants 
[Signed  by  Wardens  &  Vestry.] 


THE  CHURCHES   DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      155 

The  part  of  the  letter  that  had  the  most  weight  "with 
Bass,  as  will  be  seen  from  his  reply,  was  the  reference  to 
the  continued  existence  of  the  church :  "  As  we  value 
the  welfare  of  the  Church,  being  assured  that  without 
such  omission  the  existence  thereof  would  immediately 
cease."  This  request  elicited  from  him  a  dignified 
compliance :  — 

July  16,  1776. 

Gentlemen,  —  As  it  is  your  opinion,  that  it  is  neces- 
sary to  the  existence  of  the  Church  in  this  place,  that 
all  prayers  in  our  liturgy  relative  to  the  king,  and  royal 
family  and  British  government  be  omitted,  and  there- 
fore request  me  to  omit  those  prayers  in  my  future 
ministrations,  I  think  it  incumbent  on  me  for  so  impor- 
tant an  end  to  comply  with  this  request  during  the 
present  state  of  our  political  affairs;  and  remain  with 
great  esteem  and  affection,  yours  to  serve  in  every  rea- 
sonable respect, 

Edward  Bass. 

The  key  to  the  whole  position  of  Bass,  which  will  be 
made  amply  clear  as  we  proceed,  is  contained  in  the 
words :  "  I  think  it  incumbent  on  me  for  so  important 
an  end  (the  existence  of  the  Church  in  this  place)  to 
comply  with  this  request  during  the  present  state  of 
our  political  affairs." 

His  compHance  in  political  matters  was  governed  by 
the  possible  danger  to  his  church.  When  it  seemed 
wise  to  open  the  building  for  services  on  Fast  days  and 
Thanksgiving  days  appointed  by  Congress,  he  never 
refused,  though  in  no  way  did  he  aid  the  cause  of  the 


156  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Revolutionists.  In  politics  he  was  undoubtedly  a  Tory, 
not  of  a  very  ardent  type,  however ;  his  mild  disposi- 
tion making  it  difficult  for  him  to  become  a  vigorous 
partisan.  His  two  wardens  bear  testimony  to  his  con- 
duct at  this  period  by  saying  that  "  Temperate  and 
Uniform  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  Mission, 
his  conduct  has  been  such  as  could  give  just  cause  of 
offence  to  no  party."  ^  He  recognized  two  duties 
equally  binding  on  him  :  the  duty,  to  the  society  whose 
missionary  he  was,  of  not  being  guilty  of  acts  disloyal 
to  it,  and  the  duty  to  his  parishioners,  most  of  whom 
were  vigorous  patriots.  So  by  wisely  abstaining  from 
political  acts  that  would  have  given  offence  to  either 
party,  he  carried  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  un- 
hindered. 

He  did  not  escape  persecution  from  the  unthinking 
rabble  in  Newburyport.  Occasionally  he  was  treated 
with  some  indignity  by  those  who  associated  him  with 
the  English  interests.  Bailey,  the  active  missionary, 
whose  diary  is  a  fund  of  information  concerning  the 
times,  tells  of  a  dramatic  scene  in  which  Bass  was  the 
chief  actor  :  — 

"  I  was  one  evening  just  upon  my  arrival  at  his 
house,  witness  to  a  scene  equally  ludicrous  and  indecent, 
for  as  he  was  returning  from  an  entertainment  with  his 
wife  he  was  pursued  along  the  street  by  near  two  hun- 
dred persons  who  pelted  him  with  dirt  and  stones  and 
treated  him  with  the  most  indelicate  language ;  "  then, 
explaining  Bass's  attitude,  Bailey  adds  a  bit  of  important 
evidence  to  bear  out  the  previously  given  reasons  for 

'  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  638. 


THE  CHURCHES   DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.       157 

his  position  :  "  I  am  persuaded  that  Mr.  Bass  was  con- 
ducted into  his  deviations,  not  from  inchuation  to  the 
cause  of  the  revolters,  but  from  a  mistaken  zeal  for  the 
church  which  he  imagined  in  some  measure  would 
justify  his  compKance."  ^ 

As  one  would  naturally  expect,  a  man  taking  the 
lofty  position  of  Bass  must  suffer  from  both  sides. 
In  the  minds  of  some  in  Newburyport,  he  was  identified 
with  the  British  government,  and  hence  the  scene  above 
related;  on  the  other  hand,  the  society  in  England 
would  be  likely  to  look  upon  him  as  a  traitor  for 
remaining  at  his  post,  and  drop  him  from  the  hst  of 
missionaries.  This  the  society  did,  and  cut  off  from 
him  a  large  part  of  his  income,  which  he  could  ill 
afford  to  lose,  especially  since,  in  addition  to  his  usual 
expenses,  he  had  reduced  his  available  money  by  gifts 
of  charity,  as  pointed  out  by  Dr.  Morss,  his  friend  and 
successor :  "  The  benevolence  of  Mr.  Bass  and  his 
readiness  to  perform  deeds  of  charity  had  not  conduced 
to  ease  of  circumstances,  although  his  family  was  small ; 
he  was  therefore  severely  pinched  by  the  change."  ^ 
His  parishioners,  however,  understanding  his  position 
and  approving  it,  rallied  to  his  support  by  giving 
special  contributions  towards  his  salary  :  — 

Newbury,  Port.  Nov!  25"",  177G. 

We  the  Subscribers  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  this 
town  being  truly  sensible  of  the  Distress  which  our 
worthy  minister    must    suffer   without  some   Relief  in 

^  Collections  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Society,  vol.  ii.  p.  313. 
*  Morss,  Succinct  History  of  the  Episcopal  Ch.  Newburyport,  p.  30. 


158 


LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 


Lieu  of  that  Part  of  his  Salary  received  annually  from 
England,  and  which  the  present  unhappy  Times  prevent 
his  obtaining,  do  promise  to  pay  on  Demand  to  Mr. 
John  Vinal  the  several  sums  affixed  to  our  Names  — 
to  be  by  him  delivered  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bass. 


Tristram  Dalton 

£10     0  0 

Jno.  Tracy     . 

.     10     0  0 

Tho.  Thomas      .     . 

.       8    4  0 

Tho.  Jones    .     .     . 

.       5     0  0 

Benj.  Balch  .     .     . 

.      3  12  0 

Joseph.  Ingersol 

2    8  0 

Wm.  Morland     .     . 

2  10  0 

Abram  GalHsham    . 

0  18  0 

Capt.  T.  Barb     .     . 

14  0 

The  attitude  of  Bass  during  the  Revolution  has  been 
the  cause  of  no  little  controversy  both  in  England  and 
America.  It  was,  indeed,  famous  in  its  day,  the  society 
investigating  it  on  no  less  than  three  separate  occa- 
sions ;  and  Bass  himself  published  in  London  a  defence 
of  his  position.  Fortunately  most  of  the  evidence, 
letters  and  private  memoranda  of  the  society,  is  now 
accessible,  so  that  an  unbiassed  examination  may  be 
made  into  the  matter. 

It  appears  that  the  first  accusations  against  Bass 
were  made  to  the  society  by  the  refugee  ministers,  who 
had  forsaken  their  parishes  in  Massachusetts.  They, 
from  conscientious  motives,  doubtless,  but  in  some 
instances  from  cowardice,  had  deserted  their  posts  of 
duty,  and  were  unable  to  understand  the  motives  of 
any  clergyman  who   did  not  desert  his  parish.     In  a 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      159 

measure  to  justify  themselves,  they  were  wilHiig  to 
give  credence  to  every  rumor  affecting  the  motives  and 
acts  of  Bass.  The  society  was  informed,  principally  by 
Dr.  Caner,  Mr.  Weeks,  and  Mr.  Clark,  drawing  their 
inferences  from  vague  reports  given  by  captains  of 
vessels  that  had  been  in  the  harbor  of  Newburyport, 
that  Bass  was  an  active  participant  in  the  Revolution. 
These  accusations  influenced  the  society  in  withholding 
the  salary  of  the  missionary  at  Newburyport  and  con- 
sidering the  place  vacant.  Bass  and  his  friends,  know- 
ing that  these  reports  were  false,  endeavored  time  after 
time  to  convince  the  society  that  they  were  untrue,  and 
that,  though  he  had  remained  in  his  parish,  he  had 
wisely  abstained  from  any  participation  in  political 
affairs,  except  in  so  far  as  a  state  of  revolution  de- 
manded. 

The  principal  charges  were  :  first,  that  as  a  chaplain 
in  one  of  her  Majesty's  regiments,  he  endeavored  to 
seduce  the  soldiers  from  their  alleofiance. 

Second,  that  he  was  part  owner  in  a  privateer  vessel 
that  depredated  on  English  commerce. 

Third,  that  he  read  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
in  his  church. 

Fourth,  that  he  preached  a  sermon  in  favor  of  a 
collection  for  rebel  soldiers. 

Fifth,  that  he  kept  all  the  Fasts  and  Thanksgivings 
appointed  by  Congress. 

Concerning  the  first  two  charges,  there  is  not  a 
particle  of  evidence.  They  were  mere  vague  rumors 
originating  from  nowhere. 

Concerning  the  third  charge,  it  is  admitted  that  Bass 


160  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

did  not  read  the  Declaration ;  but  possibly  the  clerk  of 
the  parish  may  have  read  it. 

The  origin  of  the  fourth  charge  and  its  refutation 
is  given  by  Mr.  Bailey,  the  missionary  who  happened 
to  be  present  on  the  occasion  when  the  collection  in 
question  was  taken  up.  He  says  :  "  Mr.  Bass  desired 
me  to  preach,  but  I  refused,  assuring  him  that  I  would 
never  dehver  a  charity  sermon  for  clothing  the  rebel 
soldiers.  This  I  repeated  to  Mr.  Weeks,  but  as  nearly 
as  I  can  remember  Mr.  Bass  gave  us  a  general  discourse 
without  descending  to  particulars,  or  even  mentioning 
the  occasion  of  the  Solemnity." 

The  last  charge  was  true,  for  Bass  always  opened  his 
church  on  the  occasions  referred  to. 

The  charges  were  refuted  over  and  over  again  by 
competent  witnesses,  men  who  were  on  the  ground  and 
knew  what  they  were  talking  about,  but  the  society 
never  so  much  as  notified  Bass  that  there  were  any 
charges  made  against  him,  but  abruptly  refused  and 
continued  to  refuse,  to  recognize  him  as  a  missionary. 
Parker,  of  Trinity,  wrote  in  refutation  :  "  The  Report 
you  mention  you  may  depend  upon  it  is  groundless. 
If  the  Society  have  dismissed  him  because  he  carried  on 
the  service  by  omitting  the  Prayers  for  the  King  they 
have  as  to  that  been  rightly  informed,  if  for  any  other 
reason  their  information  has  certainly  been  groundless 
and  must  have  been  given  through  malice  or  envy."  ^ 
His  own  wardens  wrote :  "  We  can  assure  the  Society 
that  there  is  not  the  least  Ground  for  any  such  reports, 
and  that  his  political  Character  is  the  reverse  of  what  it 
hath  been  represented  to  them."  ^ 

1  Historical  Collections  of  Colonial  Ch.  Mass.,  p.  615.       *  JUd.,  p.  620. 


THE  CHURCHES   DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.       161 

Bass  felt  very  keenly  the  misrepresentation  of  his 
accusers  and  the  injustice  of  the  action  of  the  society, 
not  only  because  of  the  loss  of  his  salary,  but  because 
he  had  not  been  duly  informed  of  the  state  of  his  case. 
His  letters  will  make  clear  these  points  that  have  been 
discussed. 

EDWARD   BASS   TO    DR.    MORICE. 

Newbury  Port  N.  England  Octob.  30";  1781 
Rev^  Dr,  —  I  am  just  return'd  from  a  journey  of 
about  an  hundred  miles  into  the  Province  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  tho'  I  find  by  an  Abstract  of  the 
Society's  proceedings  printed  two  or  three  years  ago 
that  I  am  cut  off  the  List  of  their  Missionaries,  (for 
what  reason  I  am  still  to  learn)  yet  I  cannot  resist  the 
inclination  I  feel  to  give  that  venerable  &  Charitable 
Body  the  agreeable  information  that  our  Church  in- 
creases much  in  credit  &  reputation  among  the  gener- 
ality of  the  People  where  I  have  been,  tho'  consisting 
of  a  variety  of  Sects,  some  of  them  very  wild  &  enthu- 
siastick.  Besides  other  ecclesiastical  Duties  in  my 
above  mentioned  Town,  I  baptized  about  sixty  children 
&  Adult  Persons,  near  half  the  number  at  Holderness, 
a  new  Town  consisting  of  Church  of  England  People, 
where  in  the  course  of  a  very  few  years  there  will  be  a 
sufficient  Living  for  a  Minister.  The  People  long  for 
the  time  when  they  may  be  supply'd  with  one,  &  are 
disposed  to  do  every  thing  in  their  power  for  his  sup- 
port. Since  my  last  of  June  1780  I  have  baptized 
Fifty  three  children,  married  Twenty  seven  couple,  & 
buried  eleven  Persons.     I  beg,  Sir,  to  learn  from  the 


162  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Society  the  occasion  of  my  being  disccarded  by  them, 
that  if  it  be  owing  to  a  disapprobation  of  my  Conduct 
these  unhappy  Times ;  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of 
vindicating  myself,  &  of  endeavouring  at  least  to  make 
it  appear  to  their  satisfaction  that  I  have  been  misre- 
presented to  them.  The  times  have  made  it  very  expen- 
sive living  here,  &  tho'  some  few  of  my  People  who 
have  it  in  their  power  have  shewed  me  much  kindness, 
yet  I  find  it  difficult  to  subsist,  indeed  not  possible, 
without  running  in  debt. 

I  am  yr  most  obed*  hum'"  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 
The  Rev"  Dr  Morice. 

TO   THE  SAME. 
Newbury  Port  N.  England  Feb.  27*  1782. 

Eev?  D^,  —  Since  my  last  of  Octob.  30*?  1781 1  have 
seen  a  Letter  from  the  Rev"!  M'.  Walter  of  New  York 
to  a  Friend  in  Boston  containing  the  following  Para- 
graph. 

"  I  wrote  M"".  B  some  time  ago  &  flatter'd  him  that 
his  affairs  were  in  a  good  way  with  the  Society,  but 
by  Letters  lately  received,  I  find  the  Society  has  been 
informed  of  some  matters  so  much  to  his  injury,  that 
they  do  not  appear  disposed  to  restore  him  at  present. 
They  have  been  informed  that  he  should  say  in  the  be- 
ginning of  these  troubles,  that  it  was  a  matter  of  indif- 
ference whether  he  pleas'd  them  or  not,  for  whatever 
they  could  deprive  him  of,  would  be  amply  made  up  by 
his  Parishioners." 

This  is  as  false  as  God  is  true.     I  find  I  have  secret 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      163 

enemies  (God  knows  how  they  came  to  be  so)  who  are 
set  upon  ruining  my  character  &  reputation  with  those 
upon  whose  good  opinion  I  set  the  highest  value.  As  to 
the  loss  of  the  Society's  salary's  being  made  up  to  me 
by  my  Parishioners,  I  was  always  sensible  it  could  not. 
Some  of  them  indeed  have  shewn  me  much  kindness ; 
but  the  Times  are  very  hard  upon  them,  Taxes  exceed- 
ing high,  Trade  well  nigh  ruined  &c  so  that,  in  short, 
I  plainly  find  I  cannot  subsist  here  much  longer  with 
any  tolerable  decency  without  the  Society's  usual  allow- 
ance. But  were  my  Parishioners  ever  so  able  &  willing 
to  support  me,  this  I  can  sincerely  and  solemnly  affirm, 
that  I  have  no  principles  either  civil  or  religious  which 
lead  me  to  displease  the  Society :  and  this  has  been  too 
well  known  here  these  Times  for  my  quiet  or  comfort. 
If,  however,  the  foregoing  or  any  other  Reports  should 
continue  to  influence  the  Society  to  my  prejudice,  I 
make  not  the  least  doubt  but  they  will  be  so  just  to  me 
as  to  let  me  know,  who  my  false  Accuser  is.  So,  con- 
scious of  my  innocence,  I  will  be  bold  to  call  him  who- 
ever he  is. 

I  remain,  y""  most  obed*  hum^®  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

Rev?  D"*  Morice  London. 

TO   THE   SAME. 
Newbury  Port  N.  England  March  15'I"  1782. 
Rev?  Dr,  —  Since  the  sealing  of  the  Letter  which 
accompanies  this,  I  have  seen  another  Letter  from  New 
York  in  which  the  writer  says  with  respect  to  me  as 
follows, 


164  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

"  Some  Person  pretending  to  be  well  acquainted  with 
him  has  represented  him  to  the  Society  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  it  is  almost  hazarding  one's  reputation  to  ap- 
pear for  him.  However  as  the  cause  of  truth  &  virtue 
will  in  the  long  run  commonly  prevail,  I  do  not  mean 
to  be  intimidated  by  opposition,  &  till  I  can  be  con- 
vinced he  is  the  Person  he  has  been  represented  to 
them,  I  shall  not  cease  endeavouring  to  convince  them 
that  he  has  been  misrepresented.     It  has  been  affirmed 

to  them  that  he  has  been  a  favourer  of that  he 

received  (i.  e.  as  I  suppose  the  meaning  to  be,  read)  the 
declaratory  Act  of  Independence  in  his  Church,  that  he 
preached  a  sermon  for  the  cloathing  a  certain  Battahon, 
&  opens  his  church  on  all  Days  appointed  by " 

All  these  charges  against  me  are  absolutely  false, 
except  the  last,  viz  opening  the  Church  on  Days  ap- 
pointed by  the  present  Powers.  This  I  have  done  at 
the  repeated  Request  of  my  Parishioners,  who  re- 
presented to  me  the  danger  the  Church,  if  shut  up  on 
Such  Days,  would  be  in  of  being  demolished :  &  consid- 
ering the  spirit,  or  rather  frenzy  of  the  People,  I  really 
believe  that  was  too  likely  to  have  been  the  consequence. 
I  therefore  tho't  it  prudent  to  comply  with  their  Re- 
quest, &  opened  it ;  &  I  flatter  myself  that  upon  those 
occasions  I  did  no  harm  at  all  to  good  order  &  govern- 
ment. However,  I  did  nothing  in  opening  the  Church 
on  said  Days,  but  what,  if  I  am  not  much  misinformed, 
other  Clergymen  &  Missionaries  who  remain  in  the 
country  have  done  without  being  found  fault  with,  as 
far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn.  If  the  Society  shall 
think  proper  to  call  for  them,  I  am  ready  to  produce 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.        165 

Witnesses  in  abundance  of  the  falsity  of  all  those 
charges  that,  I  hear,  have  been  exhibited  against  me, 
which  are  of  that  publick  nature  as  to  be  capable  of 
being  proved  to  be  false,  except  that  one  which  I  have 
now  mentioned,  &,  I  hope,  in  some  measure  at  least, 
apologized  for.  I  should  be  exceeding  happy  to  know 
the  Society's  mind  as  to  this  matter. 

I  remain,  Rev*^  Dr,  yr  most  obed*  hum'^  Serv' 

Edward  Bass. 

Rev?  Dr  Morice. 

TO  SAMUEL  HALE. 
Newbury  P?  N.  England  Nov.  6'."  1782. 
Dear  S^,  —  You  see  what  trouble  your  kind  atten- 
tion to  my  affairs  has  brought  you  into  !  it  emboldens 
me  to  trouble  you  this  once  more  at  least.  Since  my 
last  (w".''  I  presume  you  have  red)  I  have  heard  it  men- 
tioned as  a  complaint  exhibited  against  me  to  the  So- 
ciety, that  I  had  preached  a  charity  sermon  in  favour 
of  the  American  soldiers,  exciting  them  to  Acts  of  hos- 
tility against  his  Majesty ;  the  meaning  of  which  I  am 
utterly  at  a  loss  to  know,  not  being  able  to  recollect 
any  circumstance  or  occurrence  that  might  give  occasion 
to  such  a  report,  unless  it  be  the  following.  In  a  year 
or  two  after  the  beginning  of  these  troubles,  when  the 
distresses  of  the  poor  among  us  began  to  be  very  great, 
many  of  them  almost  naked,  it  was  proposed  here  to 
have  a  Collection  for  the  poor  of  the  Town  in  general, 
among  whom  were  probably  included  the  Families  of 
some  Persons  in  the  American  Army ;  (probably,  I  say, 
for  I  am  not  now  certain  as  to  that  circumstance)  and 


166  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  Ministers  of  the  Town  were  desired  to  acquaint 
their  respective  Parishioners  when  the  Collection  was  to 
be  made.  I  did  accordingly  mention  to  my  People,  in 
the  course  of  a  charity  sermon  preached  the  next  Sun- 
day morning,  the  said  proposal  for  a  collection  &  the 
time  when  it  was  to  be  made,  but  without  saying  a 
word  either  then  or  at  any  other  time  concerning  Amer- 
ican Soldiers.  This  is  the  whole  of  the  matter,  &  it 
might  possibly  be  misrepresented  &  misreported  from 
one  to  another  till  it  got  to  be  a  very  criminal  affair. 
Your  Benevolence  will  lead  you  to  make  a  proper  use  of 
this,  if  there  should  be  occasion. 

I  am  yr  very  obHged  hum^®  ser* 

Edward  Bass. 

Sam':''  Hale  Esq^ 

P.  S.  Be  so  kind  as  to  deliver  the  inclosed  to  the 
Society  unless  Governor  Wentworth  has  delivered  one 
of  the  same  Tenor.  — 

Bass  did  not  let  the  matter  drop  until  he  had  ex- 
hausted every  resource.  He  even  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Weeks,  asking  for  a  definite  statement  from  him  :  — 

Sir,  —  I  learn  that  you  have  been  my  accuser  to  the 
Society,  and  beg  it  as  a  favour  that  you  would  let  me 
know  the  articles  of  the  charge  as  you  alledged  against 
me  and  the  evidence  you  produced  in  support  of  these 
allegations. 

Your  obedient  servant 

Edward  Bass. 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      167 

To  this  note  he  received  a  curt  reply  that  is  by  no 
means  favorable  to  Mr.  Weeks's  character  when  it 
is  known  now  how  prominent  a  part  he  took  as  an 
accuser :  — 

Rev^  Sir,  —  I  had  a  line  from  you  a  few  days  ago. 
If  you  think  so  meanly  of  me  as  that  I  should  turn 
accuser,  or  so  highly  of  me  as  that  I  should  have  more 
credit  with  the  Society  than  yourself  you  greatly  wrong 
me.  I  assure  you  I  am  not  admitted  to  any  of  their 
secrets. 

I  am  Sir,  your  humble  servant 

J.  WiNGATE  Weeks.* 

Bass,  desiring  to  have  his  final  word,  and  to  expose 
to  Englishmen  the  secret  methods  of  the  society,  and 
to  justify  himself  before  the  world,  published  a  pam- 
phlet in  England  called  "  A  Brief  Account  of  the 
Treatment  which  Mr.  Bass,  late  Missionary  from  The 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts  at  Newburyport,  New  England,  Hath  Received 
from  said  Society,  Drawn  up  by  Himself  with  Remarks 
upon  particular  Parts  of  it  and  addressed  to  the  impar- 
tial public."  He  selected  an  apt  text  from  Ecclesiasticus 
xix.  13,  14,  15  :  "  Admonish  a  Friend,  it  may  be  he 
hath  not  done  it.  Admonish  thy  Friend  it  may  be  he 
hath  not  said  it.  Admonish  a  Friend  for  many  Times 
it  is  a  Slander  and  believe  not  every  tale." 

The  "  Brief  Account "  sets  forth  his  principal  griev- 
ance as  follows  :  — 

1  Coll.  Prot.  Epis.  His.  Soc,  vol.  ii.  p.  201. 


168  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

"  After  having  been  employed  by  the  Society  for 
more  than  twenty  years  as  their  Missionary,  I  found 
myself,  some  time  during  the  late  troubles  and  confu- 
sions in  America,  cut  off  their  list  of  Missionaries,  the 
reason  of  which  I  have  never  been  able  to  learn  with 
any  kind  of  certainty. 

"  The  reports  ^ concerning  me  were  various.  Divers 
articles  of  charge  against  me  of  a  pohtical  nature,  were 
brought  to  my  ears  from  various  quarters ;  some  of 
them  too  absurd  and  improbable  to  deserve  notice. 
Among  other  things  it  was  said  that  I  manifested  a 
disrespect-  to  the  Society,  by  saying  I  did  not  care 
whether  I  pleased  or  displeased  them  by  my  politics, 
for  that  I  could  be  supported  without  them  —  that  I 
read  the  declaration  of  independence  publicly  in  my 
church  —  that  I  preached  a  sermon  exhorting  my  hearers 
to  contribute  hberally  towards  clothing  the  American 
army,  and  that  I  kept  the  fasts  appointed  by  the  con- 
gress. ...  I  never  denied  that  I  generally  opened  my 
church  on  the  forementioned  fast  days,  though  not  in 
consequence  of  the  orders  and  commands  of  any  unlaw- 
ful powers  whatever ;  none  of  whose  papers  or  procla- 
mations I  ever  once  read  in  public  but  at  the  desire  of 
my  congregation,  who  represented  it  as  necessary  in 
order  to  preserve  the  church  from  destruction.  In 
taking  the  pains  already  mentioned  to  vindicate  myself, 
I  went  upon  the  supposition  of  my  standing  charged 
with  some  political  misdemeanor,  but  whether  this  were 
the  case  or  not  I  am  still  to  learn ;  for  ought  I  know 
to  the  contrary  I  may  have  been  accused  to  the  Society 
of  some  gross  and  scandalous  immoraUties  which  made 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.        169 

them  judge  me  unworthy  of  being  continued  in  their 
service."  * 

"It  must  be  no  small  surprise  to  Britons  to  hear 
that  an  EugHsh  Society  should  condemn  and  punish  a 
man  in  this  clandestine  manner,  and  remind  them  of  a 
certain  odious  court  in  some  parts  of  Europe,  to  which 
the  Society  would  I  suppose,  think  it  a  disgrace  to  be 
compared ;  but  it  is  a  certain  fact,  that  by  concealing 
from  me  what  I  was  accused  of,  they  never  gave  me  an 
opportunity,  or  put  it  in  my  power  to  make  any  defence 
that  I  could  rely  upon  as  being  to  the  purpose.  Had 
they  had  the  power  of  inflicting  some  greater  penalty 
upon  their  Missionaries,  even  capital  punishment,  what 
could  have  hindered  their  proceeding  in  the  same  secret 
manner  against  any  person  so  unfortunate  as  to  have 
fallen  under  an  accusation  before  them  ?  "  ^ 

Since  old  traditions  are  very  persistent  and  enemies 
have  descendants  who  take  delight  in  repeating  exploded 
accusations,  it  may  be  well  to  show  how  Bass's  attitude 
was  appreciated  by  his  contemporaries  and  others  ca- 
pable of  judging.  Dr.  Morss  says:  "  He  suffered  on 
account  of  a  conscientious  adherence  to  what  he  con- 
sidered his  duty.  The  consequences  of  this  compliance 
on  the  part  of  the  minister  were  the  quieting  of  un- 
easiness among  dissatisfied  members,  and  the  uninter- 
rupted performance  of  public  worship  agreeably  to  the 
rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Episcopal  Church  during 
the  turbulent  scenes  of  the  revolution."  ^  One  of  the 
accomplished  historians  of  Newburyport  advances  the 

*  Bass,  A  Brief  Account,  pp.  4,  5. 
»  Ibid.,  p.  9. 

*  Morss,  Succinct  History  of  the  Episcopal  Ck.  Newburyport,  pp.  22,  30. 


170  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

opinion  that  "  fortunately  for  the  church  worshipping  at 
St.  Pa^ll's  the  arguments  of  his  enemies  prevailed,  and 
the  Society  refused  him  all  furtlier  aid,  and  he  was 
thus  thrown  on  the  generosity  of  his  parishioners  who 
rightly  estimated  his  character  as  a  man,  a  scholar  and 
a  divine,  and  gave  him  a  cordial  support."  ^ 

During  the  stirring  times  of  the  Revolution,  Edward 
Bass  was  faithful  to  the  regular  duties  of  his  ofiB.ce  and 
occasionally  took  part  in  matters  of  more  than  parochial 
concern.  In  1779,  he  was  invited  to  preach  before 
St.  John's  Lodge  of  Masons  of  Newburyport  on  St. 
John  Evangelist's  Day.  He,  being  a  Mason,  accepted 
the  invitation,  and  deHvered  the  sermon  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  which  was  afterwards  published  with  this  dedi- 
cation :  — 

To  the  Right  Worshipful  Nath^  Tracy  Esq :  Master 
The  Worshipful  George  Jenkins  and  John  Tracy  War- 
dens ;  and  the  rest  of  the  Brethren  of  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  St. 
Johns  Lodge  in  Newburyport.  This  Sermon  preached 
and  published  at  their  request  is  inscribed, 
By  their  affectionate  Brother 

And  humble  servant 

Edward  Bass. 

The  sermon  contains  many  passages  of  beauty,  some 
of  epigrammatic  power,  and  others  which  reveal  some- 
thing of  the  heart  of  the  preacher.  Appropriate  to 
the  day  and  the  company  to  be  addressed  he  took  as 

1  Smith,  History  of  Newburyport,  p.  373. 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      171 

his  subject,  "  The  Character  of  the  beloved  Disciple," 
and  based  upon  it  a  strong  plea  for  Christian  love. 

The  following  selections  are  worth  preserving  as 
specimens  of  the  spirit  and  mind  of  Edward  Bass,  and 
are  messages  across  the  century  to  those  who  care  for 
spiritual  things. 

EXTRACTS    FROM   SERMON. 

Were  I  to  express  the  sum  and  substance  of  the 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ  by  any  one  word,  that  word 
would  be  love  ;  and  Jesus  would  bear  me  out  in  it,  .  .  . 
and  so  would  his  Apostle  who  says,  that  love  is  the  ful- 
filling of  the  law. 

This  noble,  this  Godhke  principle  it  was  which  in- 
duced the  grand  architect  to  make  the  world  that  he 
might  diffuse  and  communicate  happiness  to  the  num- 
berless inhabitants  thereof,  rational  and  irrational, 
according  to  the  different  tastes  and  capacities. 

The  Apostle  says,  "  For  a  good  man  some  would 
even  dare  to  die,"  —  for  a  good  man  :  i.  e.  for  a  humane, 
kind,  and  obliging  man. 

He  did  enjoin  it  upon  his  followers  to  love  one  an- 
other, making  love  the  very  badge  by  which  they 
should  be  known  to  belong  to  him. 

When  we  consider  his  (God's)  necessary  existence, 
his  eternity,  his  immensity,  and  some  of  his  other 
attributes,  we  are  amazed  and  confounded.  But  love 
removes  the  superstitious  awe  and  dread  we  are  apt  to 
have  of  him. 

It  is  impossible  for  those  who  walk  in  darkness,  i.  e. 


172  LIFE   OF   BISHOP  BASS. 

ignorance  and  vice,  to  have  fellowship  with  that  light. 
No  spiritual  jargon  this  !  No  enthusiastic,  unintelligible 
cant,  but  a  piece  of  sound,  substantial  divinity,  which 
is  well  suited  to  our  nature,  whether  considered  as 
human,  social,  or  spiritual ;  and  which  he  hath  reduced 
to  most  plain  and  obvious  principles  of  social  virtue, 
referring  it  to  the  main  Christian  precept  of  brotherly 
love. 

Can  you,  my  brethren,  be  content  only  to  pass  among 
the  crowd  of  Christ's  disciples  without  aspiring  to  be 
his  favorites  ? 

We  must  be  uncommonly  kind,  benevolent,  and  good- 
natured. 

Some  men  there  are  who  cannot  be  denied  to  have 
many  virtues,  and  yet  they  have  a  so  disagreeable  way 
of  exercising  them,  that  they  do  not  appear  at  all  to 
advantage.     They  are  good,  but  not  amiable. 

You  may  as  well  expect  to  get  acquainted  with  the 
world  only  by  reading  books  of  travels  and  voyages  as 
to  learn  the  lesson  of  love  from  books  of  moraHty,  or 
even  from  that  divine  book,  the  Bible. 

There  are  means  to  be  used  in  order  to  produce  it 
(love) ;  one  of  which,  and  that  a  principal  one,  I  take 
to  be  society  and  conversation.  Love  must  grow  from 
frequent  intercourse  and  fellowship.  There  is  many 
times  nothing  wanting  to  remove  prejudice  and  ill-will 
but  an  opportunity  for  men  to  see  and  understand  each 
other ;  by  which  they  will  quickly  perceive  that  they 
are  not  such  monsters  as  perhaps  they  have  been  repre- 
sented to  one  another  at  a  distance. 


THE  CHURCHES  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.      173 

Bass,  like  his  predecessor  Plant,  noticed  the  peculiari- 
ties of  natural  phenomena,  and  found  a  solace,  doubt- 
less, in  turning  from  more  serious  duties  to  record  the 
strangeness  of  what  has  been  known  in  New  England 
history  as  "  The  Dark  Day,"  May  19,  1780,  when  the 
darkness  was  so  dense  that  candles  had  to  be  liohted  in 
every  house,  and  the  cocks  in  the  hen-yard  set  up  a 
crowing,  thinking  that  midnight  had  come  :  — 

May  19,  1780. 

This  day,  the  most  remarkable  in  the  memory  of 
man  for  darkness.  For  a  week  or  ten  days  the  air  had 
been  very  thick  and  heavy,  which  made  the  sun  look 
uncommonly  red.  On  the  morning  of  the  nineteenth 
the  sun  was  visible  for  a  short  time  very  early,  but  was 
soon  overcast,  and  very  black  clouds  were  seen  to  rise 
suddenly  and  very  fast  from  the  west,  the  wind,  what 
there  was  of  it  (tho'  hardly  enough  to  move  the  leaves 
on  the  trees),  at  the  southwest.  The  forementioned 
clouds  mixing  with  the  vast  quantities  of  smoke,  occa- 
sioned by  a  general  burning  of  the  woods,  caused,  in 
the  opinion  of  many,  this  unusual  alarming  darkness, 
which  began  about  twenty  minutes  before  eleven  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  and  lasted  the  whole  day,  tho'  not  equally  dark 
all  the  time.  It  was  the  darkest  from  about  twelve  to 
one  o'clock.  Afterwards  there  was  a  larger  glim  at 
the  horizon,  which  made  it  somewhat  lighter.  It  was, 
however,  at  the  lightest,  darker,  I  think,  than  a  moon- 
Hght  night.  The  sky  had  a  strange,  yellowish,  and 
sometimes  reddish  appearance.  The  night  following 
was  the  darkest  I  remember  to  have  seen,  till  about 


174  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

midnight,  when  a  small  breeze  sprung  up  from  the 
north  or  northwest,  upon  which  it  soon  began  to  grow 
Hght.  At  Falmouth,  Casco  Bay,  it  was  not  dark  at  all. 
Upon  Piscataqua  River,  Berwick,  Dover,  and  so  forth, 
it  was  very  rainy  (very  little  of  which  we  had  seen 
here,  which  fell  a  little  before  it  began  to  grow  dark), 
but  not  uncommonly  dark,  as  I  am  told  by  a  person 
who  traveled  there  that  day.  I  hear  of  the  darkness 
as  far  as  Danbury,  in  Connecticut.  It  did  not  extend 
to  North  River.  The  forementioned  darkness  was  no 
doubt  occasioned  by  an  unusual  concurrence  of  several 
natural  causes,  but  to  pretend  fully  and  clearly  to 
account  for  it,  argues  perhaps  too  great  confidence.^ 

Thus,  with  much  anxiety  and  privations,  but,  withal, 
assured  of  the  affection  of  his  people,  Edward  Bass 
passed  through  the  stormy  days  of  the  Revolution,  and 
preserved  his  church  as  an  important  corner-stone  on 
which  to  build  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Massachusetts. 
Samuel  Parker,  at  Trinity  Church,  Boston,  had  pursued 
the  same  wise  policy,  and  he  also  was  prepared  to  take 
a  noble  part  in  the  organization  of  the  parishes  in  the 
Commonwealth  and  of  the  church  at  large  throughout 
the  independent  States. 

1  Bishop  Bass's  Manuscripts;  Coffin's  History  of  Nevobury,  p.  257. 


CHAPTER   Vn. 

ATTITUDE    OF    BASS   DURING   THE    REVOLUTION. 

The  documents  bearing  upon  the  attitude  of  Edward 
Bass  during  the  Revokition,  and  his  attempts  to  gain  a 
fair  consideration  of  his  case  by  the  society,  are  pre- 
served in  London  in  the  archives  of  the  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  They 
have  been  specially  copied  for  these  pages ;  and,  being 
of  historical  value,  are  reproduced  here  in  full :  — 

TO   DR.    MORICE. 

Newbury  Port  N.  England  Jan.  9*1"  1784 
Rev'^  Dr,  —  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  with  any  more 
of  my  letters,  but  cannot  help  observing  to  you  the 
singularity  of  my  Fate  in  being  a  sufferer  on  both 
sides,  here  for  my  Loyalty,  with  you  for  the  contrary, 
without  being  a  Trimmer.  When  the  late  rebellion 
commenced,  I  preserved  as  firm  &  unshaken  loyalty  to 
his  Majesty  &  attachment  to  the  British  Government  as 
was  consistent  with  my  remaining  in  the  country, 
whereof  I  have  given  to  the  Society  all  the  proof  that 
I  thought  to  be  requisite,  having  exhibited  ample  Testi- 
monials in  my  favour,  not  only  from  my  Wardens,  but 
also  from  some  of  the  most  respectable  characters  & 
noted  Loyalists  in  the  Capital  of  Newhampshire  about 
twenty  miles  distant  from  me,  who,  without  any  soUici- 


176  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

tation  of  mine,  made  me  a  voluntary  tender  of  their 
Service,  not  to  mention  the  testimony  of  Sundry  refugee 
LoyaHsts  now  in  London  who  resided  in  this  town  & 
perfectly  knew  my  character  &  conduct :  Notwithstand- 
ing which  the  Society  has  thought  proper  to  distinguish 
me  by  uncommon  marks  of  neglect  &  displeasure. 
When  they  were  pleased  to  strike  me  off  their  list  of 
Missionaries,  they  left  me  to  vindicate  myself  against  I 
knew  not  what,  &  to  pick  up  the  Articles  I  was  charged 
with  here  &  there,  by  accident,  &  from  common  report ; 
&  I  took  much  pains  to  exculpate  myself  before  I  was 
accused,  which,  I  flatter  myself,  was  the  only  sign  of 
guilt  I  had.  The  articles  against  me  which  have  come 
to  my  knowledge  in  the  above  mentioned  way,  are,  that 
being  a  Chaplain  in  one  of  his  Majesty's  Regiments  I 
endeavoured  to  seduce  the  soldiers  from  their  allegiance, 
that  I  have  said,  I  did  not  care  whether  I  pleased  or 
displeased  the  Society,  for  that  my  Parishioners  were 
able  &  willing  to  support  me,  that  I  read  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  in  my  Church,  that  I  preached  a 
sermon  exhorting  my  Hearers  to  contribute  liberally 
towards  cloathing  the  rebel  Army,  and  that  I  observed 
the  Fasts  appointed  by  the  Congress.  All  these  Charges 
I  absolutely  deny  except  the  last,  for  I  do  not,  nor  ever 
did  deny  that  I  did  generally  open  my  Church  on  those 
Fasts,  tho'  not  in  consequence  of  the  Orders  or  com- 
mands of  an  rebel  Powers  whatever,  none  of  whose 
Papers  or  Proclamations  I  ever  read  in  publick  but  of 
the  application  &  earnest  desire  of  my  congregation 
who  represented  it  as  necessary  in  order  to  preserve  the 
Church  from  destruction,  such  was  the  spirit  or  Frenzy 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.     177 

of  People  in  general  at  that  time.  It  was,  I  can  truly 
say,  with  reluctance  that  I  complied,  nor  was  I  singular 
in  this  practice,  several  Missionaries  who  remained  in 
the  Country,  &  who  stand  well  with  the  Society,  having, 
if  I  am  not  much  misinformed,  done  the  same.  Some 
of  the  Missionaries  &  others  who  quitted  the  Country 
were  extreamly  prejudiced  against  us  who  staid  behind 
&  kept  our  churches  open,  &  were,  I  doubt,  too  ready 
to  hearken  to  any  reports  against  us.  Mr.  Weeks  of 
Marblehead,  I  remember,  charged  me  to  my  face  with 
praying  publickly  for  the  Congress,  which  with  the 
strictest  truth  I  absolutely  deny'd.  I  know  not  however 
whether  he  believed  me,  or  made  this  an  Article  of 
charge  against  me  to  the  Society.  You  will  allow  me, 
Sir,  to  express  my  feelings  of  the  Society's  neglect  of 
me.  Had  there  been  no  means  of  correspondence  dur- 
ing the  War,  I  should  not  have  thought  much  of  it,  but 
I  had  the  mortification  of  knowing  that  others  were 
noticed,  &  particularly  of  hearing  a  letter  from  the 
Society  to  the  Rev^.  Mr  Parker  of  Boston  who  is  no 
Missionary,  read.  Thanking  him  for  looking  after  some 
Interest  of  theirs  in  his  Neighbourhood.  If  there  be 
any  merit  in  this  I  can  lay  claim  to  the  same,  being 
able  to  shew  the  Society's  letter  of  thanks  to  me  for 
my  attention  to  their  landed  Interest  in  Newhampshire. 
I  have  had  two  protested  Bills  lately  returned  upon  my 
hands,  of  fifty  pounds  each,  the  one  drawn  upon  Mess" 
Hoare  &  C°  whereof  I  gave  advice  to  the  Society,  the 
other  upon  the  Society's  Treasurer ;  the  Disappoint- 
ment great,  not  to  mention  the  charges  of  Protest  to 
one  who  has  nothing  to  pay.     Two  lines  of  advice  to 


178  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

me  would  have  prevented  this.  I  am  not  ignorant  that 
the  Society  has  power  to  relinquish  any  Mission  when- 
ever they  judge  proper,  but  that  they  should  discard  a 
Missionary  upon  an  allegation  of  misdemeanor,  a  Mis- 
sionary of  long  standing,  depending  upon  their  salary, 
&  daily  incurring  expences  upon  a  full  expectation  of 
continuing  to  receive  it,  without  giving  him  the  least 
Notice,  or  any  chance  of  vindicating  himself,  is,  to  say 
the  least  of  it,  an  unexampled  method  of  proceeding,  & 
such  as  must  imply  some  very  atrocious  crime  fully 
proved.  I  must  beg  it  of  the  Society  either  to  let  me 
know  what  proof  of  my  innocence  will  be  sufficient, 
or  that  no  proof  whatever  will  avail  me ;  or,  if  they 
refuse  me  this,  at  least  to  do  me  the  common  act  of 
justice  to  let  me  know  who  are  my  Accusers,  &  what 
the  nature  of  my  crime  or  crimes,  for  whatever  becomes 
of  my  Living,  I  am  determined  to  clear  up  my  charac- 
ter in  point  of  loyalty  to  my  late  Sovereign,  which, 
thank  God,  I  can  easily  do,  as  the  forementioned  things 
charged  against  me  (if  indeed  they  are  the  things) 
could  not  be  done  in  a  Corner.  I  hope  that  by  a 
speedy  answer  to  this  you  will  prevent  the  necessity  of 
my  giving  you  or  myself  any  further  trouble  in  this 
way.  Such  an  answer  concerns  me  much  also  as  it  is 
high  time  for  me  to  look  out  for  myself.  When  the 
late  Mr  Serjeant  of  Cambridge  fled  from  his  Dwelling 
on  account  of  the  Tumults  in  that  part  of  the  Country, 
with  such  of  his  effects  as  he  could  carry  with  him, 
Cudworth's  System,  part  of  the  Society's  Library  at 
that  Mission  came  to  my  hands,  where  it  now  remains ; 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.     179 

it   shall   be   disposed   of    according   to   the   Society's 
directions. 

I  remain.  Sir,  yr  most  obed*  hum'®  serv* 

Edward  Bass. 

to  the  same. 
Newbury  Port  N.  England  June  21'*  1784 

Rev?  Dr,  —  Presuming  that  you  are  not  at  liberty  to 
answer  my  letters  as  Secretary  to  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  I  apply  myself  to  you  as  to 
a  private  Gentleman.  In  a  letter  of  yours  which  I  have 
seen  of  July  12*?  1782  to  theRev*^  Mr  Parker  of  Boston 
is  the  following  paragraph, 

"I  had  almost  forgotten  to  add  that  you  are  mis- 
taken about  Mr.  Bass,  there  were  sufficient  grounds 
for  what  the  Society  have  done,  which  I  need  not  now 
explain,  but  only  assure  you  that  it  was  not  in  conse- 
quence of  any  malicious  reports  from  enemies  to  him." 

Now,  Sir,  as  you  are  perfectly  acquainted  with  the 
grounds  of  the  Society's  proceedings  against  me,  & 
know  who  is  my  Accuser,  it  is  my  earnest  request  to 
you  that  you  would  communicate  these  things  to  me, 
which  I  wish  to  know  for  no  worse  purpose  than  to  be 
able  to  exculpate  myself,  &  to  make  the  way  clear  for 
a  Settlement,  should  an  opportunity  offer,  among  those 
of  his  Majesty's  Subjects  with  whom  my  character  now 
labours  on  account  of  my  disgracefid  dismission  from 
the  Society's  Service,  in  full  expectation  of  your  com- 
pliance with  this  request 

I  remain  yr  most  obed!  hum'f  serv' 

Edward  Bass. 


180  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

Sir,  —  I  have  lately  received  the  inclosed  Letter  and 
Certificate,  and  in  conformity  to  the  request  of  Mr. 
Bass,  who  I  believe  to  be  a  very  worthy  Missionary,  I 
request  your  favor  in  presenting  them  to  the  venerable 
Society. 

Mf  Wentworth  and  Mf  Jaffray,  the  Gentlemen  who 
sign  the  certificate,  have  been  steady  &  uniform  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England,  from  its  first  estab- 
lishment in  New-Hampshire,  and  are  unexceptionably 
respectable  in  their  whole  Characters,  that  their  testi- 
mony may  safely  be  reHed  on. 
I  am  with  due  respect 

Sir,  your  most  obed?  serv* 

J.  Wentworth. 

Hammersmith,  June  11*  1783. 


TO   JOHN  WENTWORTH,   ESQ.,   LONDON. 

Newbury  Port  N.  England 
Nov  T^  1782. 

Sir,  —  This  begs  the  f av'  of  you  to  present  the 
inclosed  to  the  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  which  will  be  adding  a  fresh 
obligation  to  the  many  that  you  have  heretofore  con- 
ferred upon 

Yr  most  obed'  hum\®  serv* 

Edward  Bass 
Who  wishes  all  health  &  happiness 
to  you  &  yrs. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    181 

[Certificate.] 

Portsmouth  New  Hampshire 
New  England  Octob!  22*.  1782. 

Whereas  it  hath  been  represented  to  the  Subscribers, 
that  in  these  times  of  confusion  &  tumult,  various 
reports  have  been  carried  to  the  society  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  dis-advantageous  to 
the  Character  of  the  Rev*^  M"  Bass  their  Missionary  at 
Newbury-Port,  respecting  his  Loyalty.  We  do  chear- 
fuUy  embrace  this  opportunity  of  assuring  the  Society, 
that  there  is  not  the  least  ground  for  any  such  reports, 
but  that  on  the  contrary,  he  hath  demeaned  himself  in 
all  respects  as  became  a  good  subject  of  the  King, 
unless  his  omitting  his  Majesty  and  Royal  Family  in 
the  Liturgy  be  reckoned  an  exception.  We  live  in  the 
Neighbourhood  of  Mf  Bass  &  are  acquainted  with  him 
and  his  affairs,  &  are  therefore  in  this  respect  well 
qualified  to  give  our  Testimony  in  his  favour.  What 
our  qualifications  are  in  other  respects,  &  what  credit  is 
due  to  our  testimony,  the  Society  may  learn  from 
Governor  Wentworth  who  is  one  of  their  Body  &  now 
resides  in  London. 

Mark  H!  Wentworth. 
Geo  :  Jaffrey. 

[Certificate.] 

Whereas  we  the  Subscribers  have  been  informed,  that 
in  these  Times  of  trouble  &  confusion  various  reports 
have  been  carried  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts  dis-advantageous  to  the 
Character  of  the  Rev*^  My  Bass  their  Missionary  in  this 
place,  respecting  his  Loyalty,  We  can  assure  the  Society 


182  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

that  there  is  not  the  least  ground  for  any  such  reports 
and  that  his  political  Character  is  the  reverse  of  what  it 
hath  been  represented  to  them. 

John  Wall  ^  Wardens  of  St.  Pauls 
y      Church,  — 

W"  MoRLAND  J  Newbury  port 

Newbuky  port  New  England  October  14''"  1782. 

[Certificate.] 

I  William  Miller,  late  Deputy  Collector  of  his  Ma- 
jesty's Customs  at  Newbury  port  in  New  England,  de- 
clare that  I  have  been  personally  &  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  Rev*^.  M'.  Bass  of  Newbury  port  aforesaid,  the 
Society's  Missionary  there,  from  the  very  beginning  of 
the  revolt  in  North  America,  till  the  month  of  May 
1776,  when  I  left  that  country  —  that  I  have  had  fre- 
quent &  repeated  conversations  with  M"!  Bass  on  the 
subject  in  dispute  between  Great  Britain  &  her  Colo- 
nies, &  that  I  have  always  found  him  a  steady  friend 
to  his  Majesty's  government  —  that  he  was  notoriously 
&  universally  so  esteemed  —  and  that  he  has  suffered 
insults  for  such  attachment  —  That  his  sermons  breathed 
such  a  spirit  of  moderation  &  obedience  to  government, 
that  he  lost  some  of  his  most  wealthy  parishioners 
thereby  —  That  if  he  had  had  the  least  incHnation 
towards  the  Rebels  or  their  cause,  living  in  his  house  as 
I  did  for  above  a  year  before  I  left  the  country,  I  must 
have  discovered  it.  On  the  contrary,  I  always  found 
him  zealously  attached  to  the  King's  person  &  Govern- 
ment ;  and  I  have  every  reason  to  conclude  he  still  con- 
tinues in  the  same  disposition  — 

William  Miller. 

Glasgow  May  5*  1783. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    183 

Sworn  to  before  me  One  of  His  Majestys  Justices  of 
the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Lanark. 

John  Alston  Jun^  J.  P. 

[Certificate.] 

I  Henry  Atkins,  late  Weigher  &  gauger  of  His 
Majestys  Customs  at  Newbury  Port  in  New  England, 
declare  that  from  the  year  1772  to  Apr!  1778  during 
which  time  I  was  intimately  acquainted  with  the  Rev*!  Mf 
Bass  of  said  Newbury  Port,  and  am  well  satisfied  till  said 
April  1778  when  I  left  said  Newbury  Port  that  the  said 
Mf  Bass  was  firmly  attacht  to  the  Constitution  and  Gov- 
ernment of  Great  Britain,  and  so  Universally  Esteemed 
by  all  that  knew  him,  and  on  that  account  was  obnox- 
ious to  the  people,  and  often  Insulted  which  I  was  eye 
Witness  too  a  little  before  I  left  the  place,  and  that 
several  of  his  most  Wealthy  Parishioners  left  him  on 
account  of  his  preaching  moderation  and  Obedience  to 
Government,  and  on  the  day  I  left  Newbury  the  11*?" 
April  as  above  I  had  some  conferrence  with  him,  and  it 
appear'd  to  me  he  was  strongly  attacht  to  Governm*  as 
he  always  had  been,  and  upon  parting  he  express'd  a 
great  desire  to  be  with  me,  and  have  no  other  reason 
but  to  think  he  still  remains  in  the  same  Opinion. 

Henry  Atkins. 

to  dr.  morice. 

Rev?  Sir,  —  Having  been  called  upon  to  say,  what 
was  the  public  Report  in  the  Massachusetts  bay,  about 
the  Loyalty  of  the  Rev"!  Edward  Bass  of  Newbury  port 
an  Episcopal  Clergyman  &  a  Missionary  of  the  Society 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  Parts  — 


184  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

I  hereby  inform  you  and  all  whom  it  may  concern, 
that  from  the  beginning  of  the  late  Trouble  in  America 
till  the  year  1777,  when  I  left  Salem,  it  was  common 
Fame,  that  the  said  Rev^  Mf  Bass  had  complied  with  all 
measures  of  Congress  and  of  the  various  Committees ; 
That  in  consequence  of  it  he  had  kept  the  Church  open, 
that  he  was  applauded  by  the  Rebels  for  his  Conduct, 
while  the  Rev*^  M"".  M*:  Gilchrist  of  Salem  was  condemned 
for  his,  in  not  reading  the  Proclamations  of  the  Con- 
gress and  other  rebel  power  Had  his  Church  shut  up, 
and  the  People  forbid  aiding  or  assisting  him  with  even 
the  necessaries  of  Life;  That  the  si  Mf  Bass  was 
blamed  by  the  LoyaHsts,  and  called  a  perjured  man,  and 
a  Rebel  to  the  Church  &  King.  Salem  is  twenty  miles 
from  Newbury  port ;  in  the  same  county ;  there  my 
Family  was;  but  I  resided  chiefly  at  Ipswich,  only 
eleven  miles  from  Newbury  port,  because  I  was  in  great 
trouble  myself,  at  Salem,  on  account  of  Loyalty,  which 
however  prevented  me  of  all  personal  Knowledge  & 
Intercourse  with  the  said  M";  Bass.  I  also  believe  it  to 
be  certain  that  no  Clergyman  could  open  his  Church  in 
the  Massachusetts  bay,  who  did  not  first  satisfy  the 
Committees  that  he  was  friendly  to  the  American  grand 
Cause ;  and  who  did  not  by  Words  &  Deeds  prove  him- 
self an  Enemy  to  the  Brittish  King  &  Nation  —  It  was 
said  that  M!"  Bass  and  Mf  Parker  of  Boston  were  the 
only  Clergymen  who  could  open  their  Churches  and  I 
believe  it  to  be  a  truth  —  it  was  also  said  by  the  People 
of  Newbury  port,  after  the  Death  of  a  Coll°  Framham, 
the  Town  was  purified ;  and  had  not  one  Tory  left  in 
it ;  that  it  had  not  a  Loyalist  in  the  Town  —  said,  M'. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.     185 

Bass  however  was  at  that  time  living  in   that  Town 

without  any  Insults,  or  molestation,  that  I  ever  heard 

of,  in  those  times ;  and  till  I  arrived  in  England. 

I  am  Rev"!  Sir  your  most  obedient  &  most  humble 

Servant 

P.  Frye. 

Suffolk  Street,  Middlesex  hospital 
May  24.  1783. 

[Endorsed  —  Colonel  Frye,  about  Bass  May  24. 1783. 
Committees  of  Safety 

of  Inspection 

of  Correspondence. 

at  Newbury  port. 

Mf  Frye  Keg'  of  the  Court  of  Probates  at  Salem,  in 
Mf  M".  Gilchrist's  Mission.  Brother  in  law  to  Df  Hol- 
yoke,  M!"  Fisher  has  now  possession  of  Salem,  &  has  got 
the  Societys  library  &  Mf  M?  Gilchrist's.  Col  Frye 
assured  me  that  N.  port  was  the  most  rebellious  place 
even  worse  than  Salem,  and  as  M^  G.  could  not  live  in 
quiet  there,  Mf  Bass  c^.  not  at  N.  P. 

Mf  Frye  informed  me  that  Mf  JafPrey  —  was  a 
Merch*  &  one  of  the  Council  in  the  interest  of  the 
Congress. 

Peters  assured  me  that  this  JafPrey  came  down  with 
three  boats  in  search  of  him,  at  Fort  William  in  N. 
Hampshire,  on  the  river  Pis-cataquay  — 

Morland,  a  Scotch  Pedlar,  took  an  high  part  on  Con- 
gress side  —  says  Mf  Frye  — 

George  Meserve  Esq  :  N°  72  or  73  Union  St.  middle- 
sex  hosp!  formerly  Collr  of  the  port  of  pis-cataqua. 

W^  Torrey  Esq"  late  of  Pis-cataqua  now  resident  at 
White  horse  Shepherds  Bush.] 


186  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

[Statement.] 

To  the  Venerable  Society  for  propagating  the  Gos- 
pel in  foreign  Parts  — 

Samuel  Hale  on  behalf  of  Edward  Bass  one  of  the 
Society's  Missionaries  settled  at  Newbury  Port  in  New 
England  beg  leave  to  state  to  the  Society  that  he  con- 
ceives the  said  Bass  was  dismissed  from  their  service  & 
his  Salary  withheld  upon  representation  made  to  that 
Body  that  the  said  Bass  had  been  disloyal  &  guilty  of 
acts  manifesting  disaffection  to  the  British  Government 
&  this  Memorialist  further  begs  leave  to  add  that  after 
being  informed  that  the  society  had  since  taken  into 
consideration  Mr  Bass's  Case  &  have  resolved  that  they 
see  no  reason  to  rescind  their  first  resolution  respecting 
Mf  Bass  or  to  that  amount  he  would  not  trouble  the 
Society  so  far  as  to  desire  them  to  reconsider  Ml"  Bass's 
Case  was  he  not  convinced  he  now  can,  &  he  flatters 
himself  that  the  present  documents  will  carry  irresistible 
conviction  not  only  of  his  Innocence  respecting  par- 
ticular charges  brought  against  him,  but  also  of  his  con- 
tinued &  uninterrupted  Integrity  loyalty  &  sufferings 
durino;  the  whole  course  of  this  unfortunate  contest  with 
America  &  also  that  far  from  deserving  Censure  or  pun- 
ishment Mf  Bass  merits  reward.  M!"  Hale  therefore 
submits  to  the  consideration  of  the  Society  the  following 
Testimonies  &  he  does  it  with  the  more  alacrity  as  some 
of  the  Witnesses  are  on  the  spot  &  ready  to  answer  any 
Questions  he  therefore  prays  the  Society  would  recon- 
sider My  Bass's  Case  &  He  doubts  not  but  the  Society 
wiU  agree  with  him  that  Ml"  Bass  ought  to  be  restored. 

Sam^  Hale. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.     187 

[Account  given  me  of  Mf  Hale.  He  was  a  Native 
of  Massachusetts  near  Salem.  Educated  at  Cambridge 
College  Designed  for  a  Dissenting  Teacher ;  but  marry- 
ing an  old  rich  Maiden,  named  Parker,  Sister  to  the 
Rev?  My  Parker  of  Boston,  he  became  a  Lawyer  in 
New-Hampshire. 

Headed  &  harangued  the  Mobs  in  the  beginning  of 
the  troubles.  Stood  Candidate  to  be  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress in  the  years  1774,  5,  6,  but  lost  it,  Sullivan  (after- 
wards a  General)  being  chosen.  Then  he  went  Commis- 
sary from  Congress  to  N.  York  for  providing  for  Rebel 
Prisoners.  Then  he  went  to  France  to  D!"  FrankHn  ex- 
pecting some  place,  but  one  Jonathan  Williams,  a  cou- 
sin of  Df  Franklin's  was  preferred.    Then  H came 

to  England  professed  himself  a  LoyaHst,  &  obtained  a 
pension  from  the  British  Government.] 

REASONS  FOR  WITHDRAWAL  OF  SALARY. 

Reasons  humbly  offered  why  those  missionaries  who 
have  left  out  the  prayers  for  the  King,  Royal  family  &c 
should  not  receive  any  Salary  from  the  Society  from 
the  time  of  their  first  doing  it  'till  they  return  back  to 
their  duty  &  use  the  Hturgy  as  they  promised  to  do  at 
their  ordination. 

1.  Because  those  people  at  whose  request  this  was 
done  are  generally  rebels,  both  in  principle  &  practice 
&  having  amassed  large  fortunes  by  privateering  are 
able  to  give  those  clergymen  that  comply  with  them 
very  ample  salaries  &  do  actually  give  them  more  than 
they  ever  before  received  from  the  Society  &  people 
both  together  — 


188  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

2.  Because  the  people  themselves  at  whose  instance 
this  was  done  have  not  the  least  expectation  &  I  believe 
not  much  desire  that  their  Clergymen  should  be  assisted 
by  the  Society —  And  those  Clergymen  who  have  been 
so  compliant  have  told  me,  they  did  not  expect  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  Society's  bounty. 

3.  Because  the  loyal  part  of  the  episcopal  Congrega- 
tions in  America  who  ought  chiefly  to  be  consulted  in 
such  cases  chose  rather  that  the  Churches  should  be 
entirely  shut  than  that  the  service  should  be  performed 
with  such  a  material  omission  as  that  of  the  prayers  for 
the  King  &c  &c  &  than  their  minister  without  express 
leave  from  his  Bishop  should  incur  the  reproach  of  act- 
ing contrary  to  his  engagements  at  ordination. 

4.  Because  altering  the  Service  so  materially  is  con- 
trary to  their  public  declaration  at  ordination  ;  contrary 
to  the  3  articles  in  the  cannon  which  they  subscribe ;  & 
in  some  respect  contrary  to  their  oath  of  allegiance ;  for 
if  they  own  a  King  they  ought  to  pray  for  him  &  for 
all  that  are  in  authority  under  him.  And  publickly 
using  the  book  of  common  prayer  without  using  the 
prayers  for  the  King  in  their  proper  place  is  publickly 
renouncing  allegiance  to  him  — 

5.  Because  unless  the  Society  shew  some  disapproba- 
tion of  those  who  have  swerved  from  the  plain  path  of 
loyalty  in  their  public  ministrations,  others  who  have 
refused  to  deviate  from  the  path  marked  out  by  the 
Church  will  be  looked  upon  with  an  evil  eye,  as  being 
weak  in  their  judgment  &  inattentive  to  the  desires  of 
their  people  — 

6.  Because  it  will  prove  a  very  bad  precedent,  & 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    189 

there  is,  I  believe,  no  Missionary,  who  if  these  things 
are  allowed  will  not  desii-e  leave  to  return  back  to  his 
cure  &  be  induced  to  carry  on  the  Service  as  well  &  as 
profitably  as  he  can  — 

It  may  be  said. 

They  do  not  pray  for  the  Congress — But  on  sup- 
position they  leave  out  the  prayers  for  the  King,  they 
ought  to  pray  for  the  Congress  —  because  they  ought 
to  praye  for  the  higher  powers,  &  there  are  none  such 
known  in  America  except  the  King  &  the  Congress  — 
But  may  they  not  publickly  leave  out  a  part  of  the  ser- 
vice as  justifiably  as  omit  the  whole  ?  By  no  means  — 
For  we  declare  at  ordination  that  whenever  we  are 
called  publickly  to  minister  in  the  Church  we  will  use 
the  liturgy  &c.  we  do  not  promise  to  use  it  when  we  are 
sick,  when  we  are  in  prison,  or  when  death  is  before  us. 
But  may  they  not  do  much  good  by  such  compliance, 
by  keeping  their  people  together  &c  &c  Why  a  rob- 
ber may  in  the  same  manner  justify  the  taking  money 
from  a  Miser,  that  he  may  do  good  with  it  —  &  the  vil- 
lain who  swears  falsely  to  save  his  friend  may  justify 
his  perjury  on  a  Hke  principle  of  doing  much  good  &c. 
And  if  we  once  admit  that  we  may  do  evil  that  good 
may  come,  there  is  an  end  of  all  moral  obligation  ;  for 
every  moral  duty  may  be  explained  away  on  this  prin- 
ciple—  In  short,  any  person  of  common  reflection  will 
look  on  those  Clergymen  &  those  Churches  who  have 
omitted  the  prayers  for  the  King  &  royal  family  as  re- 
nouncing their  dependence  on  the  Society  &  as  able  to 
support  themselves.^ 

^  The  unsigned  document,  of  which  this  is  a  copy,  is  bound  up  with 
the  original  correspondence  relating  to  Mr.  Bass. 


190  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

State  of  the  Evidence  against  Mf  Bass  who  was  dis- 
missed the  Society's  service  on  charges  of  improj)er  & 
disloyal  behavior  which  originally  gave  offence  to  his 
brethren. 

1.  The  several  Orders  of  the  Board  respecting  Mr 
Bass. 

At  the  Board  of  Jan.  1779  —  Ordered  that  no  more 
bills  of  Mf  Robert  Blackwell,  Miss?^  at  Gloster  &  Water- 
ford  be  accepted,  nor  of  Mf  Bass,  Miss?"  at  Newbury  in 
N.  England. 

N.  This  was  grounded  upon  sundry  representations 
of  the  Clergy,  Df  Caner,  My  Troutbeck,  Mf  Weeks,  Mf 
Clarke  &  others. 

2.  At  the  Board  Septf  1781.  Agreed  in  Opinion 
that  there  does  not  appear  to  be  sufficient  evidence  as 
yet  in  favor  of  Mr  Bass  to  induce  the  Society  to  reverse 
their  former  decision.  Resolved  to  agree  with  the 
Committee. 

See  Jo.  22.  350  Walter's  Letter. 

N.  B.  M"".  Walter  had  given  contradictory  evidence. 
Col.  Gardiner  &  Peters  had  given  me  verbal  proof  of 
Bass's  disloyalty. 

3.  At  the  Board  Nov:  1782.  Whereupon  the 
Comm^  having  considered  all  the  evidence  respecting 
My  Bass  they  find  that  of  the  three  charges  alleged 
against  him  that  he  had  read  Ye  Declaration  of  Indep. 
—  preached  a  Sermon  in  favor  of  a  Collection  for  rebel 
Soldiers,  &  continued  to  keep  all  the  Fasts  &  thanks- 
givings appointed  by  Congress  he  has  disproved  the 
First  —  that  he  preached  generally  without  descending 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    191 

to  particulars,  &  the  third  he  is  still  to  be  charged  with. 
They  desire  therefore  to  leave  the  decision  of  his  case 
to  the  Society 

Resolved  to  postpone  the  consideration  of  this  busi- 
ness respecting  M!^  Bass  to  a  future  Meeting 

N.  This  was  done  by  desire  of  the  late  ABp  of 
Cant^  who  was  not  present,  &  I  was  directed  to  apply 
to  Col.  Gardiner. 

At  the  next  Board  Dec!^  1782.  Ml^  Bass'  Case  was 
again  taken  into  consideration,  &  two  authenticated 
charges  of  disloyalty  signed  by  persons  of  respectable 
character,  were  read  to  the  Board.  Whereupon  it  was 
Resolved  that  there  does  not  appear  to  the  Soc^  any 
reason  for  rescinding  the  Resolve  of  a  former  Board, 
respecting  Mf  Bass's  dismission  — 

[Observations.] 

Dy  Caner  in  a  letter  of  July  15.  1775.  writes  thus. 
M'  Bass  has  complied  perhaps  too  far  with  the  Orders 
of  the  Rebels. 

Compare  this  with  Col.  Gardiners  Letter.  At  this 
time  My  Serjeant  &  Mf  Wiswall  were  driven  from  their 
Missions  &  Ml"  Weekes. 

No  notice  was  taken  of  this  till  Jan7  1779  when  Mf 
Bass  was  struck  off  the  hst,  after  repeated  assurances 
from  Clergy  who  came  over  from  America  of  his  dis- 
loyal principles 

Mf  Bass'  Letters  to  the  Soc^  He  wrote  Septf  29. 
1773. 

March  25.  1774  in  which  he  observes  that  nothing 
material  had  occurred. 


192  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

March  25, 1775.  In  which  he  says  that  his  church 
has  suffered  less  than  might  have  been  expected. 

Compare  this  with  Dy  Caner's  letter,  as  above. 

Aug.  11, 1775.  Mentions  the  general  distress  of  the 
country. 

He  wrote  May  3,  1776  by  a  Mr  Miller,  to  whom  he 
had  sold  his  draft  on  the  Society. 

From  that  time  the  Society  had  no  letter  from  him 
till  NovT  15,  1779.  Two  letters  of  that  date  came  to 
the  Society,  In  which  he  takes  no  notice  of  his  dismis- 
sion, which  he  probably  knew  of,  —  Writes  that  he  had 
omitted  the  prayers  for  the  King  &  Royal  family, 
nothing  having  been  required  of  him  but  that  omission. 
He  likewise  adds  that  he  had  drawn  for  no  bills  for 
three  years,  as  he  had  no  opportunity  of  disposing  of 
them,  &  knew  not  how  soon  the  times  might  oblige  him 
to  come  to  England.  See  page  61  —  MF  Bass  wrote 
June  1^*  1780,  &  affects  a  total  ignorance  &  asks  advice 
of  the  Soc^.    See  it  among  my  papers, 

2.  How  could  M"".  Bass  have  remained  quietly  in  so 
rebellious  a  place,  (the  other  Miss^^  in  the  Massachusets 
being  driven  away)  if  he  had  made  no  other  com- 
pUances  ? 

And  why  did  all  the  Clergy  differ  from  him  on  that 
account  ? 

When  the  abstracts  of  1779  were  received  on  the 
other  side,  in  which  Mf  Bass  was  left  out,  there  was  not 
a  single  intimation  of  dissatisfaction.  Df  Inghs  wrote 
Novf  1779,  &  Mf  Walter  another  letter  of  the  same 
date,  &  no  mention  of  Bass.  Mf  Walter  had  wrote  in 
his  favor  &  contradicted  it  soon  after.     See  my  papers. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    193 

N.  The  application  to  get  evidence  in  favor  of  Ml" 
Bass  was  from  this  country,  not  by  order  of  ye  Society. 

See  my  Letter-book  —  to  Col.  Sheriff  p.  78 ;  to  Mr 
Walter  p.  97. 

Weekes  &  Clarke  told  me  that  they  had  personal  con- 
versations with  Bass,  &  that  if  their  principles  were 
right  &  loyal,  his  were  otherwise.  Mf  Troutbeck  the 
same. 

TO   DR.  MORICE. 

23  Feb  1781 

Reverend  Sir,  —  In  answer  to  your  Request  to  be 
Inform'd  concerning  the  Rev?  M!"  Bass,  I  must  pre- 
viously observe  to  you,  that  his  Residence  in  Massachu- 
sets-Bay  was  about  50  miles  from  me,  and  therefore  I 
can't  be  suppos'd  to  be  perfect  in  any  Intelligence  I  can 
give  you  of  him  or  his  Conduct. 

What  I  have  mention'd  concerning  him  to  my  private 
Friends,  is  partly  founded  on  a  Conference  I  had  with 
him,  and  partly  on  Report. 

He  did  me  the  Honour  to  call  on  me  in  the  month  of 
June  1776,  as  he  was  passing  that  way;  We  soon 
enter'd  into  Conversation  on  the  Difficulties  the  Clergy 
of  the  Church  of  England  were  expos'd  to  by  the 
Rebellion,  when  I  was  a  little  surpriz'd  (from  the 
Character  he  had  hitherto  sustain'd)  to  find  him  differ 
in  opinion  from  the  united  Sentiment  of  the  Clergy  of 
that  Province,  (except  Mf  Parker  of  Boston)  on  the 
Conduct  that  was  proper  for  us  to  adopt,  if  we  should 
be  requir'd  by  the  rebel  authority,  to  omit  the  Prayers 
for  the  Kings  Majesty  &c. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  to  recollect  the  particulars 


194  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

that  pass'd,  but  this  in  general  I  remember,  that  he 
spoke  his  mind  to  be  for  compliance  with  the  People,  in 
all  omissions  that  they  should  requu'e,  in  order  to  keep 
up  public  worship,  using  the  vulgar  Proverb,  that  half 
a  Loaf  was  better  than  no  bread.  He  also  observ'd, 
that  the  episcopal  Clergy,  in  the  time  of  the  grand 
Rebellion  in  England,  did  the  same. 

I  replied  that  whatever  Instances  were  to  be  found 
of  that  in  those  Times,  it  was  to  be  consider'd  that  they 
had  their  Bishops  with  them,  from  whom  they  might 
receive  Instructions  from  time  to  time,  as  the  Exi- 
gency of  afPairs  might  require ;  Which  Circumstance, 
I  thought,  made  some  Difference  in  the  Case,  and  that 
as  the  state  of  things  was  then  with  us,  I  did  not  think 
we  had  a  right  to  make  any,  the  least  alteration  or 
omission  in  the  Liturgy,  without  the  Direction  of  our 
Diocesan.  —  What  he  said  in  reply  I  no  not  remember, 
but  I  am  sure  it  was  nothing  that  satisfied  me. 

I  told  him,  moreover,  that  I  was  engag'd  the  then 
next  Sunday  to  officiate  at  Scituate,  where  I  intended  to 
read  the  Prayers  for  the  Kings  Majesty,  with  as  distinct 
and  audible  a  voice  as  I  could  speak,  tho'  Mf  Winslow 
had  been  very  roughly  handled  there  by  the  Committee, 
a  few  weeks  before,  for  the  same  thing  —  He  seem'd 
to  think  that  I  was  rather  fool  hardy  than  otherwise.  — 
However  something  different  from  Fear  of  the  People 
hinder'd  my  going  there  at  that  Time. — 

It  was  sometime  after  this,  if  I  do  not  mistake,  that 
M'  Graves  of  Providence,  (who  himself  was  fond 
enough  in  all  Conscience  of  humouring  the  People,  till 
matters  came  to  extremity)  told  me  that  he  had  receiv'd 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    195 

a  Letter  from  his  Brother  Bass,  which  surpriz'd  him 
very  much,  (because  it  appear'd  so  contrary  to  that 
Spirit  of  Loyalty,  which  breath'd  in  his  former  Letters,) 
viz.  that  he,  (Mr  Bass,)  at  the  Desire  of  the  Wardens 
and  Vestry  of  his  Church,  had  omitted  the  Prayers  for 
the  Kings  Majesty,  Royal  Family  &c  throughout  the 
Liturgy.  Mr  Graves  made  some  pertinent  Remarks  at 
the  same  time,  which  discover'd  his  own  Firmness  to 
adhere  to  the  Liturgy,  without  any  Alteration  or  Omis- 
sion. — 

"  I  also  heard  by  various  other  Means  that  M5  Bass 
omitted  the  Prayers  obnoxious  to  the  Rebels,  read  their 
Proclamations,  kept  their  Fasts,  &c,  &c,  and  finally,  was 
in  all  things  Compliant,  as  far  as  requested.^^ 

Many  things  may  have  happen'd  since  the  Time  I 
now  refer  to,  to  give  Mf  Bass  other  sentiments  of  the 
matter,  &  to  increase  &  confirm  his  Loyalty;  And  I 
will  add,  that  from  all  I  have  heard  or  observ'd,  I  did 
not,  and  do  not  imagine  that  he  has  any  fixed  principle 
of  Disaffection  to  the  british  Government,  but  that  he 
was  inclin'd  to  secure  an  interest  in  popular  Favour,  in 
case  of  a  Revolution,  with  which  perhaps  he  would  be 
equally  easy ;  And  consequently,  that  he  has,  or  had, 
not  that  attachment  to  the  aforesaid  Government,  and 
Constitution  of  the  Church  of  England,  in  all  its  parts, 
as  to  endure  the  Loss  of  his  Living,  or  any  suffer- 
ings in  support  of  them.  This  was  the  opinion  I  had 
form'd  of  him  when  I  left  Massachusets-Bay  in  the 
year  1778. 

And  withal  declare,  that  I  have  a  very  friendly  feel- 
ing for  M!  Bass,  inasmuch  as  he  has  always  conducted 


196  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

himself  laudably  in  his  station,  (unless  what  I  have  now 

wrote  should  be  thought  an  Exception,)  and  has  been 

always   well   respected   by   his    Parishioners,    and   his 

Brethren  in  general.  — 

I  am.  Reverend  Sir, 

With  Veneration  &  Esteem, 

Your  most  Humble 

and  Obed!  Servant 

W^  Clark. 

P.  S.     I  have  been  very  much  engag'd  since  I  re- 

ceiv'd  your  Commands,  or  I  would  have  answer'd  them 

before,  or  have  broken   thro'  all,  had  I  conceiv'd  it  a 

matter  of  immediate  necessity.  — 
Furnival's  Inn  Court, 
N?12.  — FebT23'?178L 

TO  THE   SAME. 

New  York  Sep!  205"  1779 

Reverend  Sir,  —  You  have  greatly  obHged  me  by 
your  kind  Letter  of  March  20*?  .  .  . 

Permit  me  before  I  close  to  advert  to  a  very  interest- 
ing part  of  your  Letter,  you  say  that  Miss""!  Blackwell, 
Bass,  Macgaw  are  left  out  of  this  years  Abstract  for 
their  Disloyalty,  two  of  these  I  only  know  by  hearsay 
&  believe  the  Society  have  judged  very  rightly  in  their 
Determinations  to  dismiss  them,  but  the  Other  I  know 
too  well  to  suffer  his  Enemies  to  attempt  his  Ruin  with- 
out exerting  all  my  Influence  to  hold  him  up.  Mf  Bass 
is  an  old  and  intimate  friend  of  mine,  &  from  long 
acquaintance  I  am  bold  to  say,  tho'  the  Society  may 
have  Servants  of  more  splendid  Talents  they  have  not 
one  more  faithful  or  more  devoted  to  their  Interest; 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.     197 

nor  our  Sovereign  a  warmer  well  wisher  in  all  his  King- 
doms nor  a  better  Subject.  He  cannot  be  a  Rebel ;  his 
mind  is  too  strong  &  his  heart  too  good  to  be  perverted 
even  by  these  villainous  &  contagious  Times,  &  yet 
appearances  may  be  ag*  him.  Will  you  permit  me  to 
explain  them ;  as  they  have  been  explained  to  me  ? 
He  has  remained  in  the  Rebel  Country  —  his  Church 
is  open  —  &  he  omits  the  Collects  for  the  King  &  Royal 
Family  —  But  he  has  adopted  no  Prayer  for  the  Powers 
that  be  —  he  has  taken  no  Oath  of  Fidelity  to  the 
States  —  he  has  done  no  one  thing  in  aid  of  the  Rebel- 
lion —  on  the  contrary,  he  opposed  the  Rebellion  in  its 
first  Rising  with  all  the  Steadiness  that  coud  be  ex- 
pected from  a  man  of  his  mild  &  pacific  Disposition  — 
when  he  was  no  longer  permitted  to  use  the  Royal 
Collect  he  closed  his  Church,  and  it  was  closed  for  I 
believe  a  twelve  month  or  more.  At  length  impatient 
under  the  long  continuance  of  the  War  —  distressed  at 
seeing  his  Parishioners  weekly  attending  the  Discourses 
of  the  Dissenting  Ministers  which  was  generally  of  the 
most  treasonable  kind  —  &  at  the  same  time  sollicited 
by  many  of  his  best  Parishioners  &  Friends  to  resume 
his  Ministry  &  open  his  Church  on  the  best  Terms  he 
coud,  that  the  Loyal,  the  peaceable,  &  the  moderate 
might  enjoy  the  Sabbaths  &  the  Service  of  Our  Church 
as  near  to  its  perfection  as  the  Times  woud  permit,  He 
on  the  whole  thought  it  justifiable  to  comply  with  his 
Friends  sollicitations ;  &  he  has  at  present  a  small  but 
respectable  Congregation  chiefly  of  Loyalists  who  keep 
themselves  pure  &  wait  w'!  patience  for  the  happy  Time 
when  they  shall  see  the  authority  of  their  Sovereign 


198  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

restored  &  w^.  it,  the  Church  service  intire.  This  is  all 
his  Crime ;  &  this  it  seems  his  Enemies  have  represented 
to  the  Society  in  such  Colours  as  to  induce  a  Belief  of 
his  Disloyalty,  &  to  occasion  their  Treating  him  as  an 
Enemy,  but  I  flatter  myself  this  Representation  that  I 
have  given  will  restore  him  their  favour ;  &  an  equal 
knowledo^e  of  iK/f  JSarl  of  North  Carolina  be  the  cause 
of  removing  him  for  ever  from  their  service. 
I  am  Sir  Your  Obed*  Serv*  &  Friend 

W.  Walter. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

Dear  Sir,  .  .  .  had  I  not  said  so  much  on  the  Sub- 
ject of  M'  Bass  I  woud  just  add  that  having  stated  to 
My  Parker  of  Boston  the  whole  Charge  lying  ag*  Mf  B. 
he  assures  me  that  the  whole  is  false  scandalous  <Sb 
malicious.  &  a  Gentleman  of  perfect  Veracity  (Cap* 
Packer)  is  now  here  who  tells  me  that  he  is  intimately 
acquainted  w?  M!"  Bass,  is  astonished  to  think  that  any 
Intimation  can  be  given  ag*  him  of  Disloyalty,  «& 
respecting  that  part  particularly  of  his  reading  the 
Declaration  Act  of  Indepency  he  was  at  Newbury  port 
just  after  that  Act  was  Circulated  &  Mf  Bass  told  him 
that  he  had  been  requested  to  read  it  in  his  Church  but 
that  he  had  positively  refused  it  saying  he  was  no 
Herald  to  publish  the  Proclamations  of  War,  if  the 
High  Sheriff  or  the  Clerk  of  the  Church  were  dis- 
posed to  read  it  he  coud  not  prevent  it,  hut  woud  have 
nothing  to  do  w^  it  himself  &  Cap*  Packer  is  positive  it 
never  was  read  there  by  any  one. 

This  Evidence  is  so  pointed  that  I  coud  not  without 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.     199 

Injustice  to  my  valuable  friend  omit  laying  it  before 
you  for  the  Information  of  the  Society  whose  wish  I 
am  sure  it  must  be  to  get  all  the  Information  they 
possibly  can  respecting  their  Servants  in  America.  .  .  . 
With  great  respect  I  am 
Dear  Sir 

Your  most  Obed!  Serv? 
&  faithful  Brof 

W.  Walter. 

THE   STATE   OF  THE   EPISCOPAL   CHURCHES 
In  the  Province  of  Massachtcsetts-bai/,  Newhampshire,  &c. 

The  Church  at  Newbury-port  is  much  in  the  same 
state  in  which  it  hath  been  for  some  years  past.  Upon 
the  declaration  of  Independence  M"  Bass  was  persuaded 
to  leave  out  the  prayers  for  the  King  &c  &c.  By  this 
compHance  he  expected  to  make  great  acquisitions  to 
his  flock  but  he  was  disappointed.  For  this  indeed  his 
people  have  greatly  increased  his  salary,  but  he  hath  by 
it  lowered  himself  in  the  esteem  even  of  the  rebels 
themselves.  There  is  scarcely  one  loyal  person  in  that 
rebellious  town. 

[Endorsed.     State  of  Churches  1778 
Weeks  complains  of  Bass 

Not  one  loyalist  in  Newbury  Port.] 

TO    DR.    MORICE. 

Reverend  Sir,  —  Being  desirous  to  give  you  all  the 
information  I  can  concerning  the  Missionaries  abroad,  I 
now  acquaint  you  from  my  own  knowledge,  that  My 
Bass  of  Newbury  W  Parker  of  Boston  &  Mr  Wheeler 


200  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

of  Providence  (the  two  last  not  in  tlie  Society's  service) 
have  in  their  public  ministrations  constantly  left  out  the 
prayers  for  the  King,  Royal  Family  &c  since  the  declara- 
tion of  Independence. 

My  Bass  went  so  far  as  to  preach  a  sermon  exhorting 
his  hearers  to  give  their  money  liberally  for  cloathing 
the  rebel  Soldiers  &c  Mf  Baily  Missionary  at  Pownal- 
boro'  my  Brother  in  law  was  present  on  the  occasion  & 
heard  the  sermon ;  I  did  Hkewise  hear  &  have  good 
reason  to  believe  that  he  prays  Hkewise  for  the  Congress 
but  I  cannot  assert  this  from  my  own  knowledge  having 
never  conversed  with  him  upon  the  subject. 
I  am  Revf  Sir 
Your  most  obliged  &  faithful  servant 

Jo.  WiNGATE  Weeks. 
London,  Jan?  21, 1779. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

Newbury  port  May  3?  1784 

Rev?  D^,  —  By  the  Abstracts  of  the  Society  for  the 
propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts  it  appears 
that  the  Venerable  society  for  a  Number  of  years  past 
have  Considered  their  Mission  in  this  place  as  Vacant, 
M^  Bass  has  been  constantly  resident  here  since  his  first 
appointment,  and  not  withstanding  the  difficulties  to 
which  the  Churches  in  general  have  been  subjected  in 
America  during  the  late  Tumults  &  Troubles  —  The 
Church  in  this  place  has  been  open  during  the  war 
without  interruption. 

Mf  Bass'f  parishioners  have  been  at  a  Loss  to  Conjec- 
ture why  this  Mission  hath  been  Considered  as  Vacant 
with  a  Resident  Mission'y.     But  have  lately  to  their  no 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    201 

snicall  Surpriz  been  inform'd  that  the  venerable  Society 
have  been  induced  to  this  measure  in  consequence  of 
the  following  Charges  alledged  against  My  Bass  —  Viz, 
1^*  That  at  the  Commencement  of  the  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  &  the  Colonies,  Ml"  Bass  practised  with 
the  King's  Soldiers  to  seduce  them  from  their  allegiance 
and  to  perswade  them  to  join  the  Colonists. 

2*^^^  That  he  has  manifested  a  disregard  for  The 
Venerable  society  by  declaring  that  the  Societys  Sallary 
was  not  an  object  with  him  as  he  could  Depend  upon 
his  parish  to  support  him. 

3*^'^  That  he  read  in  his  Church  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  published  by  the  American  Congress. 

4.th'y  Ti^g^i;  i^e  preached  a  Charity  Sermon  to  Cloath 
the  American  Army  —  5*^'^  That  he  Discovered  a  readi- 
ness to  Open  his  Church  on  the  Fast  days  appointed  by 
the  Congress. 

To  aid  the  representation  of  truth  and  to  Vindicate 
the  Character  of  Ml"  Bass  from  such  groundless  imputa- 
tions, we  the  subscribers  Wardens  of  his  Church  do  for 
ourselves  &  also  in  the  name  of  the  Church,  declare 
that  so  far  as  it  is  possible  to  know  a  Negative,  we  are 
certain  that  the  four  first  of  these  Charges  are  Totally 
groundless  &  false ;  the  General  &  particular  deport- 
ment of  Mr  Bass  so  far  as  we  have  been  Able  to 
Observe  haveing  always  been  such  as  in  no  degree  to 
warrant  Either  of  the  said  imputations.  Temperate 
and  uniform  in  the  Dis-charof'e  of  the  Duties  of  his 
Mission,  his  Conduct  has  been  Such  as  could  give  just 
Cause  of  Offence  to  No  Party,  As  for  the  last  Article 
of  Charge   Mf   Bassf  readiness  to   Observe   the   Days 


202  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

appoinf?  as  Publick  Fasts,  the  fact  is  in  a  degree  true  & 
his  Parishioners  have  conceived  him  justifiable  as  a 
Servant  of  the  society  in  so  doing,  Prayers  were  usually 
read  in  his  Church  upon  Those  Occasions  &  unless 
this  had  been  done  the  Church  must  have  been  Broken 
up  Immediately.  Mf  Bass  has  been  for  a  long  time 
here  in  the  Service  of  the  Venerable  Society  &  hath 
sustaine*^  many  of  the  difficulties  connected  with  the 
late  Revolution,  The  Annual  Allowance  of  the  Venera- 
ble Society  heretofore  was  the  Principal  Part  of  his 
Living,  the  Ability  of  his  parish  to  support  him  instead 
of  increasing,  hath  been  considerably  Diminished  we 
were  heretofore  greatly  relieved  by  the  Assistance  of 
the  Society,  for  which  we  do  now  heartily  thank  them, 
&  shall  ever  retain  a  greatfull  Remembrance  of  their 
Goodness  — 

If  in  bearing  Testimony  to  the  above  stated  facts  we 
can  remove  the  Charges  made  against  My  Bass,  we 
conceive  we  shall  Serve  the  Venerable  Society,  who  in 
no  Case  can  be  contented  under  a  false  information. 
And  to  the  end  they  may  know  the  Truth  on  this  sub- 
ject of  their  faithful  Servant  Mf  Bass,  we  request  it  of 
you  Sir,  that  you  will  embrace  the  earhest  Opportunity 
to  Communicate  this  our  Testimony  to  the  Venerable 
Society.  We  remain  Sir,  with  all  due  Respect  &  Con- 
sideration 

Y'  Very  Hum'^  Serv*? 

Joseph  Cutlers   Wardens  of  St.  PauVs 
V  Church,  Newhury-port 

Lewis  Jenkins  J  (iV.  England) 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    203 
EXTRACTS    FROM    THE    JOURNAL    OF   THE    SOCIETY. 

"  15  Sept'  1775.  Read  Two  letters  from  the  Rev^ 
Df  Caner  of  Boston  N.  E.  dated  Juue  2**  &  July  15, 
1775.  ...  In  the  2^.  letter  he  writes.  Mr  Bass  has 
complied,  perhaps  too  far,  with  the  Orders  of  the 
Rebels."  ' 

"  15  Jan?'  1779.  Ordered,  that  no  more  of  the  Bills 
of  Mf  Robert  Blackwell,  Miss'^  at  Glocester  &  Water- 
ford,  be  accepted ;  nor  of  M!"  Bass,  Miss'^  at  Newbury 
in  New  England."  ^ 

"  21  Jan^  1780.  Read  Two  Letters  from  the  Revf 
My  Edward  Bass,  late  Missionary  at  Newbury,  New- 
England  ;  dated  Newbury-Port,  New-England,  Novf 
15*^  1779  ;  lamenting  that  several  attempts  he  has  made 
to  write  to  the  Society  have  been  unsuccessful,  and 
hoping  that  this  may  be  more  fortunate.^ 

"  When  the  Colonies  first  declared  themselves  inde- 
pendent, he  was  much  at  a  loss  how  to  conduct  himself ; 
and  should  have  thought  himself  hapjiy  in  the  advice 
and  directions  of  the  Society.  However,  being  impor- 
tuned by  his  parishioners,  who  were  very  earnest  to 
have  the  church  kept  open,  he  consented  to  continue 
the  service,  under  the  disagreeable  circumstance  of 
being  obliged  to  omit  the  prayers  for  the  King  and 
Royal  Family  ;  in  the  hope  of  doing  some  good  in  bad 
times,  and  of  preventing  the  dispersion,  if  not  even  the 
annihilation  of  his  church.     In  this  way  he  still  goes 

*  Journal,  vol.  xx.  pp.  415-417. 
^  Ibid.,  vol.  xxi.  p.  415. 
^  Ibid.,  vol.  xxii.  pp.  60-62. 


204  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

on,  nothing  having  hitherto  been  required  of  him  hut 
the  above  omission  ;  and  for  that  he  hopes  to  have  the 
Society's  indulgence. 

^'  Since  his  last,  which  was  March  25*?^  1776,  he  has 
baptized  about  100  children,  mostly  in  his  own  parish ; 
besides  numbers  at  Portsmouth  ;  and  married  40  couple. 
Not  long  since,  he  made  an  excursion  of  an  hundred 
miles  into  the  Province  of  New-Hampshire,  where  he 
preached  divers  times,  and  baptized  60  children,  chiefly 
in  two  towns,  one  of  which  consists  almost  wholly  of 
members  of  the  Church  of  England. 

"  It  is  more  than  three  years  and  an  half  since  he 
has  drawn  for  any  Salary :  not,  he  says,  because  he  has 
not  wanted  it,  but  partly  for  want  of  good  opportuni- 
ties of  disposing  of  his  bills ;  and  partly  because  he 
knew  not  how  soon  the  times  might  obHge  him  to 
remove  to  England,  where  he  would  have  had  occasion 
for  it  all." 

"  15  June.  1781.  Read  From  the  Rev**  Mf  Ranna 
Cossitt,  Missionary  at  Haverhill  and  Claremont  in  the 
Province  of  New-Hampshire,  dated  Claremont,  January 
10*?^  1781 :  .  .  . 

"  In  his  tour  to  Boston  he  visited,  he  says,  Mf  Bass, 
whom  he  esteemed  as  one  of  the  most  worthy  and  loyal 
of  the  Society's  Missionaries  ;  but,  to  his  great  surprize, 
found  that  he  had  been  dismissed  from  their  service.  He 
apprehends  the  Society  must  have  been  moved  to  this  by 
misrepresentations  respecting  that  Gentleman ;  as,  from 
what  he  himself  knows,  and  from  informations  he  can 
depend  upon,  he  has,  through  the  whole  of  these  dis- 
tracted times,  maintained  his  loyalty  uncorrupted  by 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    205 

the  prevailing  spirit ;  and  has  been  much  abused  and 
insulted  for  his  attachment  to  the  King's  Government ; 
which  he  has  borne  with  Christian  patience.  This  M!" 
Cossit  thought  himseK  bound  to  mention  from  duty  to 
the  Society  and  esteem  for  a  worthy  brother."  ^ 

"  21  Sept^'  1781.  Read  a  letter  From  the  Rev-*  Df 
luglis  and  Ml"  Walter,  dated  5*?  June  1781 :  acquaint- 
ing the  Society,  that  application  having  been  made  to 
them  to  know,  if  the  charge  of  disloyalty,  for  which  it 
was  supposed  the  Society  had  dismissed  My  Bass  from 
their  service  was  well  grounded,  or  not ;  they  are  exceed- 
ingly happy  to  assure  the  Society  that,  from  the  best 
information  which,  in  the  present  state  of  the  country, 
they  have  been  able  to  collect,  they  firmly  believe  the 
charge  to  be  groundless.  He  omits  the  collects  for  the 
King,  and  opens  his  church  on  the  days  appointed  by 
Congress  for  pubhc  fastings  and  thanksgivings  :  but  in 
this  he  does  no  more  than  many  other  valuable  Clergy- 
men, who  suppose  themselves  justified  by  tlie  principle 
of  necessity.  They  do  not  find  that  he  has  adopted 
any  prayers  for  the  ruling  powers  of  the  country,  or  in 
any  measure  countenanced  the  rebellion.  His  private 
Ufe  is  unexceptionable ;  his  most  intimate  acquaintance 
are  the  acknowledged  Loyalists  of  that  country ;  and 
his  labours,  as  they  heretofore  have  been,  are  devoted 
to  the  improvement  of  his  flock  in  virtue  and  pure 
rehgion. 

"  On  the  whole,  they  think  the  charge  of  disloyalty 
not  applicable  to  Mr  Bass ;  and  that  in  all  respects,  he 
is  worthy  of  the  Society's  favour ;  and  their  wishes  are, 

^  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  pp.  269,  270. 


206  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

that  he  may  be  restored  to  his  place  and  pay,  as  a  valu- 
able Missionary. 

"  Agreed  in  opinion  that  there  does  not  appear  to  be 
sufficient  evidence,  as  yet,  in  favour  of  My  Bass,  to 
induce  the  Society  to  reverse  their  former  decision."  * 

"  21  Dec^'  1781.  Read  A  Letter  from  the  Rev^  Mf 
Bass,  to  the  Rev'?  M'  Walter,  dated  Newbury-Port,  New- 
England,  July  2"?  1781 :  stating  to  him,  that,  having 
understood  from  several  quarters,  that  the  Society's 
principal  complaint  against  him  was,  that  he  had 
preached  a  charity  sermon  in  favour  of  the  American 
soldiers,  exciting  them  to  acts  of  hostility  against  his 
Majesty,  he  was  at  a  loss  to  know  the  meaning  of  it, 
not  being  able  to  recollect  any  circumstance  that  might 
give  occasion  to  such  a  report ;  nor  could  any  of  his 
friends,  to  whom  he  mentioned  the  matter,  give  him 
any  light  concerning  it.  At  length,  looking  over  some 
of  his  papers,  he  found  what  he  supposes  must  have 
been  the  occasion  of  it.  In  a  year  or  two  after  the  be- 
ginning of  these  troubles,  when  the  distresses  of  the 
poor  began  to  be  great  and  clamorous  for  reHef,  it  was 
proposed  to  have  a  collection  for  the  poor  of  the  town 
in  general.  Among  them  were  included  the  families 
of  some  men  then  in  the  American  army.  The  Min- 
isters of  the  town  were  desired  to  acquaint  their  respec- 
tive parishioners,  when  the  collection  was  to  be  made. 
In  consequence  of  this,  he  mentioned  to  his  people,  in 
the  course  of  a  sermon  which  he  preached  the  next 
Sunday  morning,  the  said  proposal  for  a  collection,  and 
the  time  when  it  was  to  be  made ;  but  without  saying 

^  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  p.  308-310. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    207 

a  word  of  American  soldiers,  either  then,  or  at  any 
other  time,  in  his  preaching  or  public  services.  This 
was  the  whole  of  the  matter ;  which,  probably,  was  mis- 
taken by  some  ignorant,  or  prejudiced  person,  who  was 
present,  merely  from  the  proposed  charitable  collection's 
being;  mentioned  in  a  sermon,  and  the  declared  inten- 
tion  of  bestowing  a  part  of  it  on  the  wives  and  children 
of  some  who  were  in  the  service."  ^ 

"  25  Jany  1782.  Read  Two  Letters  from  the  Rev^ 
M!"  Bailey,  Missionary  at  Cornwallis  in  Nova  Scotia, 
both  dated  9*?  November  1781. 

"  At  the  earnest  request  of  Mf  Bass,  he  presumes  to 
lay  before  the  Society  the  following  representation  of 
his  case.  Two  Gentlemen,  on  whose  veracity  and  hon- 
our M'.  Bailey  can  entirely  depend,  affirm  to  him  that 
M^  Bass  is  undoubtedly  a  friend  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment ;  that  though  he  was  forced  to  omit  the  usual 
prayers  for  the  King,  yet  he  could  never  be  brought  to 
pray  for  any  of  the  Revolters ;  that  he  has  always 
refused  to  read  the  Declarations,  Resolves,  and  Man- 
dates of  the  Rebel  Authority  ;  that  he  has  been  of 
great  service  in  moderating  the  violent,  in  confirming 
the  doubtful,  and  in  making  converts  of  those  who 
would  listen  to  his  arguments ;  and  that  it  is  his  most 
sincere  desire  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  Church  and 
the  supremacy  of  Great  Britain.  Mr  Bailey  says,  he 
can  attest  the  greatest  part  of  the  above  account;  add- 
ing, that  he  always  considered  Mf  Bass  as  a  worthy, 
honest  man ;  and  that  he  is  authorized  to  add,  that  M.*" 
Bass  is  more  deeply  affected  at  having   forfeited  the 

^  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  p.  350-352. 


208  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

esteem  and  favour  of  the  Society  whom  he  has  served 
so  long,  than  at  the  loss  of  his  Salary,  though  he  is 
wholly  subsisted  by  charity."  ^ 

"  15  March  1782.  Read  a  letter  From  the  Rev**  Mf 
Walter,  dated  New- York,  8*?  December  1781 :  acknow- 
ledging, that  he  feels,  with  all  its  force,  the  justice  of 
the  imputation  of  inconsistency,  as  to  his  evidence  given 
by  him  at  different  times  for  and  against  Ml"  Bass, 
brought  against  him  in  the  Secretary's  letter  of  the 
29*?  September.  It  concerns  him  much,  he  thinks,  to 
clear  up  the  matter,  if  he  can  :  that  he  may  preserve 
that  credit  with  the  Society,  which  he  is  so  soHcitous 
always  to  obtain. 

"  His  first  Letter  was  a  mere  effusion  of  friendship, 
on  finding  a  brother  Clergyman  whom  he  loved,  and  of 
whom  he  had  then  heard  no  ill,  dismissed  from  the  So- 
ciety's service.  He  could  not  but  beheve,  that  some 
enemy  had  done  him  wrong.  And  in  this  belief  he 
remained,  till  he  saw  MF  Weekes,  on  his  return  from 
England.  He  mentioned  several  matters,  of  which  he 
seemed  to  be  so  well  informed,  that  My  Walter  could 
not  question  their  authenticity.  And  then  he  was 
sorry,  that  he  had  ever  thought  of  vmdicating  Mf  Bass. 
Under  this  impression  he  wrote  a  second  time :  since 
which  the  evidence  has  been  continually  rising  in  favour 
of  M'  Bass.  All  this  confusion  has  been  entirely  owing 
to  Mr  Weekes ;  who,  when  he  comes  to  hear  of  all  that 
has  happened.  My  Walter  is  persuaded,  will  be  among 
the  deepest  mourners  for  his  own  conduct. 

"  For  himself,  Mf  Walter  laments,  not  that  he  has 

1  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  pp.  382,  383. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE   REVOLUTION.    209 

been  one  among  the  advocates  for  Mf  Bass  ;  for  he  be- 
lieves him  to  be,  what  he  knew  him  to  be  before  these 
troubles,  an  innocent  man,  a  loyal  man,  and  (what  is 
more)  a  good  man.  He  therefore  laments  only,  that 
Mf  Weekes  should  have  fallen  in  his  way  so  mal-oppor- 
tunely,  and  that  his  great  respect  for  Mf  Weekes's  vera- 
city should  have  induced  him  to  give  up  his  own  opin- 
ion, and  for  a  moment  to  think  unfavourably  of  his 
friend. 

"  The  Society's  great  caution  in  determining  against 
one  of  their  Servants,  and  their  steadiness  in  adhering 
to  one  opinion,  till  completely  informed,  cannot  be  too 
highly  approved.  Yet  notwithstanding  the  unfavour- 
able Hght  in  which,  he  apprehends,  he  must  ah-eady 
appear  to  the  Society,  he  cannot  but  again  press  the 
interest  of  his  friend.  He  does  not  believe,  that  ever 
Mf  Bass  preached  a  sermon  for  cloathing  a  Rebel  Bat- 
talion ;  or  ever  read  the  Declarative  Act  for  Independ- 
ence in  his  Church ;  or  at  all  altered  in  his  sentiments 
of  loyalty,  since  his  dismission.  That  he  opens  his 
Church  on  the  days  appointed  by  Congress,  as  publick 
days,  is  most  certain.  And  if  this  is  criminal,  then 
every  Clergyman  within  the  Rebel  Lines  is  criminal ; 
and,  amongst  others,  Df  Inglis,  who  did  the  same,  wlien 
Washington's  Army  was  in  New-York.  To  err  is  inci- 
dent to  humanity :  and  great  allowances  are  due  to  the 
difficult  circumstances  of  the  Clergy  of  the  Church  of 
England,  in  the  revolted  Provinces.  And  though  the 
Society  have  already  had  far  too  much  trouble  about 
this  unfortunate  business,  yet  he  is  persuaded,  they  will 
think   no   trouble   too   great  for  the  investigation  of 


210  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

truth ;  and  that  they  will  be  infinitely  more  happy  to 
find  a  respectable  man  proved  innocent,  than  guilty  of 
any  criminal  charge."  ^ 

"  19  April,  1782.  Read  a  letter  From  the  Revf  Mf 
Walter,  dated  New-York,  January  2*^  1782.  .  .  . 

"  in  October  last,  he  wrote  to  Mf  Parker,  of  Boston, 
requesting  his  candid  sentiments  of  Mf  Bass;  in  an- 
swer to  which.  My  Parker  assures  him,  that  the  report 
of  Mf  Bass's  having  preached  a  sermon  for  the  cloath- 
ing  of  a  Rebel  battalion  is  entirely  groundless;  and 
that,  if  the  Society  have  dismissed  him  from  their  ser- 
vice, because  he  has  carried  on  the  Service,  by  omitting 
the  prayers  for  the  King,  they  had  authority  for  what 
they  did  :  but  if  for  any  other  reason,  their  information 
must  have  been  erroneous,  and  given  through  envy,  or 
malice. 

"  In  addition  to  this  testimony,  Mf  Walter  gives  that 
also  of  Ml"  Winthrop  of  New-London ;  who  has  been 
often  at  Newbury-Port  during  the  troubles,  and  never 
heard  any  thing  injurious  to  the  loyalty  of  Mf  Bass. 
On  the  contrary,  Df  Smith,  a  Physician  of  that  Sea- 
port, and  a  Parishioner  of  Mf  Bass's,  had  expressed 
much  astonishment  at  his  dismission ;  which,  he  was 
confident,  was  unmerited. 

"  These  evidences  in  Mr.  Bass's  favour,  with  many 
others  which  might  be  adduced,  he  trusts,  will  weigh 
with  the  Society ;  who,  he  hopes,  had  rather  that  ten 
guilty  should  escape,  than,  that  one  innocent  man 
should  suffer ;  and  that,  of  course,  Mf  Bass  will  be 
restored  to  their  favour.     And  Ml"  Walter  promises, 

^  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  p.  420-423. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    211 

that,  as  it  is  his  duty,  so  it  will  be  his  greatest  pleasure, 
to  be  more  careful  in  future,  from  time  to  time,  to  give 
the  Society  such  information  as  they  may  assuredly 
rely  on."  ^ 

"  15  Nov'''  1782.  Read  Two  Letters  from  the  Rev? 
M'  Baily,  both  dated  Cornwallis,  4*.^  May  1782  ;  .  .  . 

"  With  respect  to  My  Bass,  &  the  information  which 
My  Baily  gave  to  My  Weeks,  he  states  the  matter  as 
follows.  Being  compelled  to  leave  his  family,  to  avoid 
confinement  on  board  a  Guard-Ship,  he  wandered  about 
the  Country  :  and  about  the  middle  of  November  1777, 
came  to  Newbury-Port,  and  was  at  Church  on  a  day  of 
public  thanksgiving  appointed  by  the  Congress.  My 
Bass  desired  My  Baily  to  preach ;  but  My  Baily  de- 
clared that  he  would  never  deliver  a  Charity  Sermon  to 
collect  money  for  cloathing  the  Rebel  Soldiers.  This 
My  Baily  soon  afterwards  reported  to  My  Weeks.  As 
nearly  as  My  Baily  can  remember,  My  Bass's  sermon 
was  general,  without  descending  to  particulars,  or  even 
mentioning  the  occasion  of  the  solemnity.  After  ser- 
mon, the  collection  was  made.  Many  refused  to 
contribute;  and  a  Lady  of  some  distinction  declared, 
with  a  spirited  voice  —  '  I  will  not  give  a  single  penny 
towards  the  support  of  Rebels.' 

"  My  Baily  adds,  he  is  very  confident,  both  from  the 
repeated  assertions  of  My  Bass  himself,  and  other  cir- 
cumstances that  he  refused  to  read  the  Declaration  of 
Independency,  and  he  became,  on  that  account,  ex- 
tremely obnoxious  to  the  virulent  party.  My  Baily  is 
certain,  that  My  Bass  was  publickly  reproached  for  a 

1  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  p.  434-436. 


212  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Tory;  and  just  after  his  arrival  at  his  house,  he  was 
one  evening  a  witness  to  a  scene  equally  savage,  ludi- 
crous and  indecent :  for  as  My  Bass  was  returning  from 
an  entertainment  with  his  wife,  he  was  pursued  along 
the  street  by  near  200  persons,  who  pelted  him  with 
sticks  and  dirt,  and  treated  him  with  the  most  indeli- 
cate language. 

"  In  the  universal  tumult  and  confusion,  which  pre- 
vailed in  the  beginning  of  the  War,  many  j^ersons  were 
driven  by  the  impulses  of  fear,  to  act  both  against 
conscience  &  inclination.  On  one  hand,  men  had  to 
struggle  with  the  most  dreadful  threats  of  vengeance : 
on  the  other,  were  the  intreaties  and  tears  of  their 
friends,  to  practise  a  little  comphance  (though,  by  the 
way,  whenever  this  was  done,  it  only  made  their  enemies 
the  fiercer) :  moreover,  it  was  a  constant  device  confi- 
dently to  tell  the  Loyalists,  that  their  brethren,  in  other 
parts,  had  fully  yielded  to  the  requisitions  of  Congress, 
and  the  spirit  of  the  times.  Mf  Baily  himself  had 
all  these  difficulties  to  struggle  with,  and  knows  their 
force  :  and  if,  in  some  not  absolutely  essential  respects, 
Mi"  Bass  was  less  firm,  and  gave  way  a  little,  it  was  no 
more  than  what  many  good  men  have  done,  and  he 
humbly  thinks,  he  is  entitled  to  pity  and  forgiveness, 
rather  than  to  censure  and  rejection.  His  errors,  such 
as  they  were,  certainly  arose  not  from  any  attachment 
to  the  Rebel  cause,  but  to  a  mistaken  zeal  for  the 
Church."  1 

"  15  Nov'"'  1782.  Read  a  Letter  From  the  Rev^  M"^ 
Walter,  of  New- York  without  any  date.  .  .  . 

*  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  pp.  483-486. 


ATTITUDE  OF  BASS  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION.    213 

"Whereupon  the  Committee  having  considered  all 
the  evidence  respecting  Mf  Bass,  they  find,  that,  of  the 
three  charges  alledged  against  him,  —  that  he  had 
read  the  Declaration  of  Independency,  —  that  he  had 
preached  a  sermon  in  favour  of  a  collection  for  Rebel 
Soldiers,  —  and  continued  to  keep  all  the  Fasts  and 
Thanksgiving-days  appointed  by  Congress ;  he  has  dis- 
proved the  first ;  that  he  preached  generally,  without 
descending  to  particulars  ;  and  the  third  he  is  still  to 
be  charged  vdth.  They  desire,  therefore,  to  leave  the 
decision  of  his  case  to  the  Society. 

"  Resolved  to  postpone  the  consideration  of  this  busi- 
ness,—  respecting  My  Bass,  to  a  future  Meeting."* 

"  20  Dec^'  1782.  Mf  Bass's  Case  was  again  taken 
into  consideration,  and  two  authenticated  charges  of 
disloyalty,  signed  by  persons  of  respectable  character, 
were  read  to  the  Board  : 

"  Whereupon  it  was  Resolved,  that  there  does  not 
appear  to  the  Society  any  reason  for  rescinding  the 
Resolve  of  a  former  Board,  respecting  Mf  Bass's  dismis- 
sion." ^ 

"  16  May,  1783.  Sundry  Testimonials  in  favour  of 
My  Bass  of  Newbury  Port,  having  been  laid  before  the 
Board  by  Ml"  Hale,  the  same  were  read : 

"  Agreed,  that  this  Business  be  postponed  to  the  next 
General  Meeting ;  when  all  the  former  Papers  relative 
to  it  may  also  be  produced."  ^ 

"  20  June,  1783.     The  Board  having,  agreeably  to 

^  Journal,  vol.  xxii.  pp.  519-521. 
2  Ihid.,  vol.  xxiii.  pp.  34,  35. 
«  Ibid.,  p.  78.  , 


214  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  Resolution  of  the  last  Board,  again  taken  into 
consideration  Mf  Bass's  case;  and  having  very  fully 
considered  the  same, 

*^  Kesolved  to  abide  by  their  former  decision."  * 

^  Journal,  vol.  xxiii.  p.  97. 


CHAPTER  Vm. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

So  soon  as  the  Treaty  of  Peace  was  signed  and  actual 
independence  was  recognized,  the  former  parishes  of 
the  Church  of  England  began  to  plan  for  a  closer 
union  among  themselves  with  the  object  of  advancing 
the  interests  of  the  Episcopal  churches,  by  securing 
uniformity  of  liturgy  and  government.  At  first  the 
efforts  toward  such  uniformity  were  often  ill-judged  and 
feeble,  the  churches  being  reduced  in  membership,  and 
the  clergy  and  parishioners  by  no  means  being  of  the 
same  mind.  The  churches  in  the  different  colonies 
were,  Uke  the  colonies  themselves,  independent  of  one 
another,  owing  allegiance  to  no  central  authority,  and 
uncertain  as  to  the  nature  of  the  relationship  that 
existed  between  them.  The  question  of  organizing  a 
complete  Episcopal  System  was  an  embarrassing  one, 
because  of  the  need  of  securing  a  bishop ;  and  the 
changes  in  the  Hturgy,  made  by  the  several  parishes, 
principally  by  leaving  out  prayers  for  the  English  gov- 
ernment, presented  the  further  problem  before  the 
Colonial  churches,  whether  they  should  make  more 
decided  changes  and  substitute  new  forms  in  place  of 
the  old  ones.  Again,  since  there  was  no  royal  author- 
ity to  appoint,  and  no  methods  for  the  election  of 
clergymen  or  bishops,  and  no  traditions  of  representa- 


216  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

tive  bodies  of  churchmen  legislating  for  the  ■whole 
church,  the  very  important  question  of  the  rights  of 
the  laity  naturally  came  to  the  front.  Democracy  in 
the  government  was  assured;  was  there  also  to  be 
democracy  in  the  church  ? 

There  was  a  variety  of  opinions  on  all  of  these  sub- 
jects. The  Rev.  William  White  of  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia,  who  was  the  true  father  of  the  American 
Episcopal  Church,  its  wise  counselor  and  statesman,  — 
a  man  whose  Christian  character  and  constructive  abiUty 
were  potent  influences  in  these  early  days  of  organiza- 
tion, —  at  first  advised  the  starting  of  the  three  orders 
of  the  ministry  de  novo  without  any  further  recourse 
to  England.  The  churches  in  the  South  did  not  want 
a  bishop.  Those  in  Connecticut  advocated  strongly  the 
need  of  an  Episcopate,  but  were  vehemently  opposed  to 
the  proposition  that  power  should  be  given  to  the 
laymen.  Massachusetts  maintained  the  importance  of 
the  Episcopate,  but  differed  from  Connecticut  on  the 
question  of  the  rights  of  the  laity. 

Out  of  this  conflict  of  opinion,  making  itself  heard 
in  personal  letters,  in  meetings  of  the  clergy  in  the 
various  sections  of  the  country,  in  friendly  debates  and 
in  formal  conventions,  —  a  conflict  always  carried  on 
earnestly  and  sincerely,  —  there  grew  into  being  the 
fully  organized  Episcopal  Church  of  America  with  its 
orders,  its  liturgy,  and  its  constitution.  The  period 
immediately  succeeding  the  acceptance  of  the  Treaty  of 
Peace  was  the  formative  era  of  the  United  States,  in 
which,  after  many  struggles,  was  born  the  Constitution, 
binding  together  the  scattered  States  in  the  Federal 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    217 

Union.  The  years  between  1783  and  1789  have  been 
named  very  appropriately  by  Mr.  John  Fiske  "  The 
Critical  Period  of  American  History ; "  in  the  same 
way  these  years  might  be  called  "  the  critical  period  of 
American  church  history." 

The  j)art  that  Massachusetts  played  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  its  own  parishes  and  in  the  church  in  America 
is  worthy  of  study,  and  should  be  a  matter  of  pride  to 
a  diocese  that  has  always  contributed  its  share  of  men 
and  measures  in  the  development  of  the  Ejjiscopal 
Church  in  the  United  States.  Naturally  the  two  names 
that  stand  out  most  prominently  are  those  of  Parker 
and  Bass ;  and  the  two  parishes  that  had  the  most 
influence  are  Trinity  Church,  Boston,  and  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Newburyport.  Parker  was  the  young  and 
active  man,  occupying  the  vantage  ground  in  Boston ; 
Bass  was  the  older  man,  wise  in  suggestion,  and  the 
trusted  adviser  and  correspondent  of  Parker,  and  was 
surrounded  by  vigorous  laymen  whose  letters  and 
other  papers  are  documents  of  the  highest  importance. 
Parker  and  Bass  had  frequent  discussions  with  each 
other,  had  numerous  interviews,  served  on  the  same 
committees,  and,  though  differing  at  times,  joined  forces 
for  the  good  of  the  church. 

The  first  meetings  held  to  consider  the  condition  of 
the  parishes  and  to  outline  future  policies  were  held  in 
Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  and  Connecticut ; 
and  letters  of  advice  passed  between  the  prominent 
clergymen  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  Parker 
and  White  corresponded  with  each  other  as  to  the 
best  method   of  dealing  with   the  questions  at  issue. 


218  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

In  a  letter  written  to  the  Rev.  William  White,  Parker 
well  describes  the  state  of  the  churches  in  Massachu- 
setts :  — 

..."  We  are  indeed  hut  five  in  number,  for  when 
the  British  Troops  evacuated  this  town  in  March  1776, 
all  the  Episcopal  Clergy  in  this  Town  except  myself  and 
many  from  the  other  Towns  accompanied  them  and 
have  never  since  returned.  Indeed,  but  two  others 
remained  in  the  whole  Government,  these  were  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bass  of  Newburyport,  who  was  a  Missionary  from 
the  Society,  but  now  for  reasons  unknown  dismissed 
from  their  service,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Wheeler,  who  was  an 
assistant  to  the  Rector  of  Trinity  Church  in  Newport 
Rhode  Island ;  the  latter  being  a  native  of  this  Pro- 
vince, upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  retired  to  a 
small  patrimony  in  the  Vicinity  of  this  Town,  and  did 
not  officiate  at  all  until  a  twelve-month  past  he  was 
invited  to  the  churches  in  Scituate  and  Marshfield  in 
the  County  of  Plymouth.  Since  the  war  two  Clergy- 
men have  settled  in  this  State,  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis,  who 
was  Chaplain  in  Burgoyne's  Regiment  of  Light  Dra- 
goons, and  left  that  service  and  came  to  this  Town  in 
1778  and  settled  in  Christ  Church. 

"The  other,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fisher,  who  came  from 
Annapolis  in  Nova  Scotia  in  1780  and  settled  in  Salem. 
The  oldest  Church  in  this  Town,  formerly  known  by 
the  Name  of  King's  Chapel  is  now  supplied  by  a  Lay 
Reader  who  is  a  Candidate  for  Holy  Orders.  There 
are  five  or  six  other  Churches  in  some  of  which  Lay 
Readers  now  officiate.  In  the  State  of  New  Hampshire 
there  are  but  two  Episcopal  Churches,  one  at  Ports- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    219 

mouth,  the  metropolis  of  the  Government,  where  there 
has  been  no  Clergyman  since  the  War,  the  other  in  a 
new  Settlement  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  where 
a  Missionary  from  the  Society  in  England  is  now 
resident.  In  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  are  three 
Churches  only,  exclusive  of  one  at  Bristol  which  was 
burnt  by  the  British.  In  neither  of  these  is  there  a 
Clergyman  in  Holy  Orders,  but  in  two  of  them  there 
are  Lay  readers  who  are  candidates.  Mr.  Graves  Mis- 
sionary from  the  Society,  still  resides  at  Providence,  but 
has  not  officiated  since  the  commencement  of  the  War. 
The  State  of  Connecticut  contains  the  greatest  number 
of  Episcopal  Churches  of  any  of  the  New  England 
States.  There  are  fourteen  Missionaries  from  the  So- 
ciety besides  seven  other  Clergymen  not  in  their  service. 
This,  Sir,  is  a  brief  State  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  four  Northern  Governments  which  are  contained  in 
what  is  called  New  England.  I  flatter  myself  this 
account  will  not  be  disagreeable  nor  perhaps  useless  to 
you  in  your  future  Consultations  respecting  the  Epis- 
copal Church  in  America." 

On  the  very  day  when  Parker  wrote  the  above  letter, 
Bass  was  sending  him  an  important  one,  which  is  given 
below.  The  chief  points  in  it  are  :  1st,  that  all  legis- 
lative power  should  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  "  the 
clergy  and  laity  conjointly,"  and  that  at  the  proposed 
meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  churchmen,  "  a  layman 
of  each  church  should  meet  with  us  ;  "  2d,  the  need  of 
securing  a  bishop  "  that  we  may  have  his  concurring 
voice  in  such  matters."  Bass  did  not  approve  White's 
suggestion  of  constituting  the  "  three  orders  de  7iovo" 


220  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

nor  did  he  think  that  the  church  consisted  solely  of  the 
clergy,  exclusive  of  the  laymen.  This  last  opinion 
Bass  defended  against  the  opposition  of  some  of  the 
Massachusetts  clergy  ;  while  the  vigorous  contention  of 
the  laymen  in  Newburyport  for  their  rights  sharply 
separates  the  Massachusetts  attitude  from  that  of  Con- 
necticut, what  has  generally  been  referred  to  as  '^  the 
New  England  attitude"  is  simply  the  ecclesiastical 
stand  taken  by  Connecticut.  There  was  a  Massachu- 
setts attitude  as  well  as  a  Connecticut  attitude. 

TO   REV.    SAMUEL   PARKER. 

Newbury  Port.  June  21,  1784. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  I  have  received  yrs.  of  the  15th  inst., 
enclosing  the  Minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  Convention  and 
their  design  appears  to  me  to  be  very  good,  not  to  say 
very  important,  viz.,  the  continuance  and  preservation  of 
uniformity  among  the  Episcopal  Churches,  at  least  from 
their  State  to  the  Northern  extremity  of  the  United 
States.  I  fully  agree  with  them  that  the  Authority  to 
make  Canons  or  laws  should  be  placed  in  a  represen- 
tative Body  of  Clergy  and  Laity  conjointly,  and  hope 
that  in  due  time  a  suitable  place  for  their  Meeting  will 
be  appointed.  That  the  Service  and  Discipline  of  our 
Church  are  capable  of  improvement  will,  I  apprehend, 
be  deny'd  by  few  of  her  intelligent  Members  ;  and  such 
improvement  or  amendment  may  without  doubt  be 
more  easily  effected  now  than  heretofore  when  we  were 
connected  with  Great  Britain.  But  still  reformation  of 
almost  any  kind  is  a  nice  and  delicate  affair,  and  not  to 
be  touch' d  or  attempted  by  rough  hands.     I  also  look 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    221 

upon  it  to  be  liiglily  expedient  that  proper  Collects  be 
made  for  the  Government  we  Hve  under.  You  propose 
a  Meeting  o£  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  this  State, — 
Jubes  renovare  dolorem  !  Alas  !  to  what  are  we  re- 
duced !  I  know  of  but  four,  two  in  Boston,  one  in 
Salem,  and  yr  humble  serv't.  If  then  we  should  meet, 
Salem  I  think  would  be  the  proper  place,  and  why 
should  not  a  respectable  Layman  of  each  Church  meet 
with  us  ?  After  all  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  would  be 
proper  to  wait  for  the  arrival  of  our  Bishop  before  we 
proceed  to  any  ecclesiastical  consultations  of  impor- 
tance, that  we  may  have  his  concurring  voice  in  such 
matters.  Accordino-  to  the  account  I  have  had  from 
you  we  might  have  expected  the  arrival  of  such  a  per- 
son before  this  time.  Pray,  what  is  become  of  him  ? 
(Mr.  Seabury,  I  think  you  told  me  was  the  man  who 
went  to  England  last  year  for  Consecration.)  What 
hath  been  his  success  ?  Is  anything  like  to  be  done 
towards  the  regular  continuance  of  our  Succession,  for 
I  hope  Messrs.  White  and  Brethren  have  it  not  m  con- 
templation to  constitute  their  three  orders  de  novo. 
Have  you  seen  and  conversed  with  Mr.  Badger  ?  If 
so,  what  is  his  plan  ?  Where  does  he  mean  to  fix,  etc. 
I  hear  he  was  some  time  ago  at  Haverhill,  but  he  did 
not  call  upon  me.  I  should  be  glad  of  your  Answer  as 
soon  as  may  be  convenient  to  you,  as  also  of  anything 
else  you  may  have  to  communicate  to 

Yr.  Affectionate  Brothr.  and  humble  Serv't, 

Edward  Bass. 

As  a  result  of  the  above  correspondence,  the  first 


222  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

formal  meeting  of  the  clergy  in  Massachusetts  took 
place  in  Boston,  on  September  8,  1784.  Seven  clergy- 
men were  present :  Rev.  John  Graves,  of  Providence ; 
Rev.  Edward  Bass ;  Rev.  Moses  Badger ;  Rev.  William 
Willard  Wheeler,  of  Scituate  and  Marshfield ;  Rev. 
Stephen  C.  Lewis,  of  Christ  Church,  Boston ;  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Fisher,  of  Salem  ;  and  Rev.  Samuel  Parker, 
of  Trinity  Church,  Boston.  The  affairs  of  the  church 
were  discussed  at  this  preliminary  meeting,  and  though 
no  constructive  legislation  was  attempted,  resolutions  of 
great  importance  were  passed  and  a  circular  letter  sent 
to  prominent  clergymen  throughout  the  country.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  arrange  for  a  convention 
of  the  parishes  in  Massachusetts,  to  be  held  in  1785. 
Bass,  Parker,  and  Fisher  were  the  members  of  this 
committee,  with  Bass  as  chairman. 

The  resolutions  passed  by  the  meeting  were  six  in 
number :  — 

KESOLUTIONS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  the  States 
of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island,  held  at  Boston, 
Sept.  8, 1784, 

Voted.  That  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America  is  &  ought  to  be  independent  of  all 
foreign  Authority  ecclesiastical  &  civil.  But  it  is  the 
Opinion  of  the  Convention  that  this  Independence  be 
not  construed  or  taken  in  so  rigorous  a  Sense  as  to 
exclude  the  Churches  of  America  separately  or  collec- 
tively from  applying  for  &  obtaining  from  some  regular 
Episcopal  foreign  Power  an  American  Episcopate. 

Secondly.    That  the  Episcopal  Church  in  these  States 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    223 

hath  &  oiiolit  to  have  in  common  with  all  other  reli- 
gioiis  Societies  full  &  exclusive  Powers  to  regulate  the 
concerns  of  its  own  Communion. 

Thirdly.  That  the  Doctrines  of  the  Gospel  he  main- 
tained as  now  professed  by  the  Church  of  England  & 
Uniformity  of  Worship  be  continued  as  near  as  may  be 
to  the  Liturgy  of  the  said  Church. 

Fourthly.  That  the  Succession  of  the  Ministry  be 
agreeable  to  the  Usage  which  requireth  the  three  Orders 
of  Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons,  that  the  rights  and 
Powers  of  the  same  be  respectively  ascertained  &  that 
they  be  exercised  according  to  reasonable  Laws  to  be 
duly  made. 

Fifthly.  That  the  Power  of  making  Canons  &  Laws 
be  vested  solely  in  a  representative  Body  of  the  Clergy 
and  Laity  conjointly ;  in  which  Body  the  Laity  ought 
not  to  exceed  or  their  votes  to  be  more  in  Number  than 
those  of  the  Clergy. 

Sixthly.  That  no  Powers  be  delegated  to  a  general 
Ecclesiastical  Government  except  such  as  cannot  con- 
veniently be  exercised  by  the  Clergy  &  Vestries  in  their 
respective  Congregations. 

The  circular  letter  is  a  strong  assertion  of  the  need 
of  a  complete  organization  of  the  churches  before  any 
effective  work  can  be  done  :  — 

CIRCULAR   LETTER. 

Reverend  and  Honored  Brethren,  —  Having 
been  favoured  with  the  Minutes  of  the  Meeting  of  the 
Clergy  &  Lay  Delegates  from  sundry  Congregations  of 


224  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  held 
at  Philadelphia  the  25*^  of  May  last,  communicated  to 
us  by  your  Chairman,  We  the  Clergy  of  Episcopal 
Churches  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  & 
State  of  Rhode  Island,  met  in  Convention  at  Boston 
Sept.  8th  1784,  have  duly  considered  the  same  and 
have  unanimously  adopted  the  fundamental  Principles 
or  Instructions  to  which  you  are  bound,  and  think  the 
same  not  only  unexceptionable  but  such  as  the  Epis- 
copal Churches  in  the  United  States  ought  to  adopt. 
We  have  indeed  thought  proper  to  add  a  Restriction  or 
an  explanatory  clause  to  the  first  and  fifth  Article, 
more  for  the  Sake  of  avoiding  any  Mistakes  hereafter 
than  because  we  suppose  we  differ  from  you  in  Senti- 
ment. 

But  it  is  our  unanimous  Opinion  that  it  is  beginning 
at  the  wrong  end  to  attempt  to  organize  our  Church 
before  we  have  obtained  a  head.  Our  Churches  at 
present  resemble  the  scattered  Limbs  of  the  body  with- 
out any  common  Centre  of  Union,  or  Principle  to 
animate  the  whole.  We  cannot  conceive  it  probable 
or  even  possible  to  carry  the  Plan  you  have  pointed  out 
into  Execution  before  an  Episcopate  is  obtained  to  direct 
our  Motions,  &  by  a  delegated  Authority  to  claim  our 
Assent.  It  is  needless  to  represent  to  you  the  absolute 
Necessity  of  adopting  &  uniting  in  some  speedy  mea- 
sures to  procure  some  reputable  Person  who  is  regu- 
larly invested  with  the  Powers  of  Ordination,  &c.,  to 
reside  among  us,  without  which  scarce  the  Shadow  of 
an  Episcopal  Church  will  soon  remain  in  these  States. 
Many  are  the  Congregations  here  destitute  of  a  Clergy- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.     225 

man,  &  we  must  be  left  to  the  disagreeable  Alternative 
of  having  no  Church  in  many  of  our  Settlements  where 
there  would  probably  be  a  respectable  one,  or  of  having 
Clerical  Powers  conveyed  in  an  irregular  manner. 

As  to  the  mode  of  obtaining  what  we  stand  in  such 
need  of,  we  wish  above  all  things  to  procure  it  in  the 
most  regular  manner  &  particidarly  from  our  mother 
Church  in  England.  Whether  any  of  the  Bishops  in 
Eno-land  or  Ireland  would  consecrate  a  Person  chosen 
among  ourselves  &  sent  there  for  that  Purpose  without 
a  mandate  from  the  King  of  England  or  the  authority 
of  his  Parliament,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  determine  ;  but 
we  have  no  doubt  that  a  regular  Application  made  by 
a  representative  Body  of  the  Episcopal  Chui'ches  in 
America  would  easily  obtain  a  consecrated  head,  &  in 
order  to  this  we  earnestly  wish  a  mode  of  applying 
in  some  such  way  may  be  immediately  adopted  by  the 
American  Churches. 

We  are  of  Opinion  that  we  ought  to  leave  no  means 
untried  to  procure  a  regular  Succession  of  the  Episco- 
pacy before  we  think  of  obtaining  it  in  an  irregular 
Manner.  To  accomplish  this  we  have  chosen  a  Com- 
mittee of  our  Body  to  correspond  with  you  upon  this 
subject  &  adopt  such  Measures  for  the  same  as  may 
be  expedient  or  necessary.  And  in  case  a  Meeting  of 
a  representative  Body  shall  be  agreed  upon,  we  have 
delegated  a  Power  to  one  of  our  Number  to  represent 
us  and  our  Churches  in  such  a  Meetina*.  We  are  ex- 
tremely  anxious  for  the  Preservation  of  our  Communion 
&  the  Continuance  of  an  Uniformity  of  Doctrine  and 
Worship,  but  we  see  not  how  this  can  be  maintained 


226  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

without  a  common  head,  &  are  therefore  desirous  of 
uniting  with  you  in  such  Measures  as  shall  be  found 
expedient  &  proper  for  the  common  good. 
We  are  Gentlemen 

your  affectionate  Brethren  &  Friends, 
Signed  in  behalf  of  the  said  Convention, 

J.  Graves,  Modr. 

Boston,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
Sept.  8,  1784. 

The  Committee  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  > 
in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  ) 

Many  of  the  parishes  not  having  any  clergyman  de- 
pended upon  a  lay-reader,  who  conducted  the  services, 
but  others  secured  occasionally  a  minister  of  some 
other  denomination,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Rev.  WiUiam 
Rogers,  a  Baptist,  who  in  1782  officiated  in  St.  John's 
Church,  Providence,  at  the  request  of  the  wardens.^ 
On  one  occasion  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  was  given  the 
right  to  hold  a  funeral  service  in  Trinity  Church,  Bos- 
ton, as  appears  from  the  records  of  the  parish  :  — 

"  An  application  was  made  by  Rev*^  Mons""  L  de 
Rousselet  minister  of  the  Catholic  Church  for  the  use 
of  Trinity  Church  to  read  the  prayers  of  the  Catholic 
Church  over  the  body  of  Mons'  de  Larive  Treasurer 
general  of  the  Island  of  Guadeloupe  &  its  dependen- 
cies who  had  been  entombed  under  said  church. 

"  Voted  unanimously  that  Rev.  Mons""  L  de  Rousselet 
have  hberty  to  perform  the  funeral  Service  according  to 
the  Rites  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Trinity  Church  on 
^  Updike,  Narragansett  Church,  p.  416. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    227 

Thursday  next  or  at  any  other  time  he  shall  see  con- 
venient." 

Trinity  Church  was  even  used  for  a  concert,  as  was 
also  King's  Chapel :  — 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Minister,  Wardens  &  Vestry 
of  Trinity  Church  on  Monday  Evening,  Aug^*  26, 
1782:  — 

The  Wardens  acquainted  the  Vestry  that  AppHcation 
had  been  made  to  them  by  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  the  use  of  said  Church  to 
perform  some  Pieces  of  Music  for  the  Benefit  of  the 
Poor  in  the  Almshouse.  .  .  .    Whereiqjon — 

Voted  That  Liberty  be  granted  for  the  use  of  said 
Church  for  the  Purpose  aforesaid  — 

Provided  That  the  Music  to  be  performed  be  only 
sacred  Music  &  not  intermixed  with  Songs  or  any 
Pieces  levitous  or  unbecoming  a  Place  appropriated 
solely  to  the  worship  of  the  Deity.  Provided  also 
That  if  any  Damage  should  accrue  to  said  House  by 
Means  thereof,  that  it  be  rej)aired  out  of  the  Money 
raised  by  the  Sale  of  the  Tickets.  And  as  it  will  be 
necessary  that  the  Prayer  Books  &  Cushions  be  re- 
moved out  of  the  Pews,  which  will  be  no  small  Labour 
&  Trouble,  it  is  expected  that  the  Sexton  of  said  Church 
be  paid  for  removing  &  replacing  the  same. 

A  true  Entry  of  said  Votes, 
Attest,  Samuel  Parker,  Minister. 


228  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

King's  Chapel,  Boston,  not  having  a  clergyman  of 
its  own,  had  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  James  Free- 
man, who,  as  a  young  man  studying  for  the  ministry, 
conducted  the  services  and  preached  sermons  of  his 
own  composition.  When  Mr.  Freeman  began  his  work 
the  members  of  the  chapel  who  had  been  worshipping  at 
Trinity  Church  sent  their  words  of  appreciation  to  Mr. 
Parker  for  his  kindness  to  them  :  — 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Minister  Wardens  &  Vestry  of 
Trinity  Church,  October  13,  1782  :  — 

The  Rev**  M""  Parker  communicated  the  following 
Letter  from  the  Wardens  of  the  Chapel  addressed  to 
the  Proprietors  of  Trinity  Church,  viz..  The  Proprietors 
of  the  Chapel  having  engaged  a  Gentleman  to  officiate 
for  them  in  the  Capacity  of  a  Reader  &  designing  soon 
to  return  to  their  former  place  of  Worship  cannot  but 
express  their  warmest  acknowledgments  to  their  Bre- 
thren of  Trinity  Church  for  the  kind  accommodation 
which  they  have  afforded  them  during  their  attendance 
on  divine  Service  at  their  Church.  This  Testimony  of 
Love  &  Friendship  towards  them  when  they  were  des- 
titute of  a  Pastor  &  thereby  otherwise  deprived  of 
worshiping  in  a  way  most  agreeable  to  them,  will 
leave  the  most  lasting  Impressions  upon  their  Minds. 
They  cannot  sufficiently  testify  their  Sentiments  of 
Gratitude  &  Respect  to  their  worthy  Pastor  the  Rev"* 
M'  Parker  for  his  many  agreeable,  useful  &  instructive 
Lessons  — 

They  hope  to  preserve  a  friendly  Intercourse  & 
Exchange  with  them   &   that   they  may  be   favoured 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.    229 

occasionally  with  his  Assistance  in  administering   the 
Ordinances  of  Baptism  &  the  Lord's  Supper  — 

They  wish  Grace  Mercy  &  Peace  may  be  multiplied 
unto  them  &  subscribe  themselves  their  Brethren  in  the 
Faith  &  Fellowship  of  the  Gospel  — 

Thomas  Bulfinch  )   Wardens  of  the 
James  Ivers  j  Chai^el. 

Boston,  Oct"  13, 1782. 

The  Proprietors  of  Trinity  Church. 

Mr.  Parker  answered  this  courteous  letter  of  thanks 
in  one  of  equal  felicity :  — 

To  THE  Proprietors  of  the  Chapel.  — 

Gentlemen  :  Having  communicated  your  Letter  to 
the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  as  you  will  perceive  by 
the  above  votes  I  am  desired  in  the  Name  of  said 
Church  to  inform  you  that  they  are  happy  in  the  Re- 
flection that  they  have  been  able  to  accommodate  in 
some  measure  according  to  their  Wishes  their  Brethren 
of  the  Chapel  during  the  time  they  have  been  destitute 
of  a  Minister  and  thereby  deprived  of  worshipping 
God  in  a  Way  most  agreeable  to  them.  — 

The  Proprietors  of  Trinity  Church  unite  their  Wishes 
with  those  of  their  Brethren  of  the  Chapel  that  a 
friendly  Intercourse  &  Correspondence  may  be  main- 
tained &  preserved  between  the  two  Churches  &  as  an 
Evidence  of  their  Desire  hereof  they  have  freely  given 
their  Consent  to  admit  the  Gentleman  they  have  en- 
gaged in  Capacity  of  a  Reader  to  read  the  Service  &  a 
Sermon  in  their  Church  while  their  Minister  occasionally 
officiates  with  you.  — 


230  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Be  kind  enough  Gent,  to  accept  my  Acknowledgment 
for  the  Sentiments  of  Gratitude  &  Respect  you  are 
pleased  to  entertain  for  me,  for  the  Candour  and  kind- 
ness with  which  you  have  received  my  ministerial  In- 
structions &  for  the  polite  &  obHging  manner  in  which 
you  have  testified  the  same  — 

Be  assured  Gent.  I  shall  always  esteem  myself  happy 
in  being  instrumental  in  promoting  the  Prosperity  of 
your  Church  &  shall  with  the  greatest  Alacrity  assist 
you  in  any  offices  peculiar  to  the  ministerial  character 
as  well  as  in  all  other  Kespects  — 

With  my  earnest  Prayers  to  the  great  head  of  the 
Church  that  your  Society  may  be  abundantly  watered 
with  divine  Influences  &  be  built  up  in  our  most  holy 
Faith, 

I  subscribe  myseK  Gentlemen  your 

devoted  Servant  in  the  Gospel 

S.  Parker. 

Boston,  Oct.  16, 1782. 

The  Wardens  of  the  Chapel. 

The  friendly  relations  between  the  two  parishes  did 
not  continue,  for  when  an  exchange  between  Mr.  Parker 
and  Mr.  Freeman  was  proposed,  Parker  could  not  per- 
mit the  unordained  reader  to  perform  the  office  of  Holy 
Communion.  This  request  and  refusal  was  the  forecast 
of  the  radical  changes  that  were  soon  to  be  proposed 
at  the  chapel.  The  two  letters  are  valuable  as  marking 
the  first  difference  of  opinion  between  the  people  of 
the  chapel  and  the  other  Episcopal  churches. 

To  the  foreofoins:  letter  the  foUowino;  answer  was 
made :  — 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    231 

Rev^  Sir,  —  Your  Favour  of  the  16  of  October  was 
laid  before  the  Proprietors  of  the  Chapel  &  very  grate- 
fully received.  They  esteem  themselves  happy  in  your 
ready  Compliance  with  their  request  of  administering 
the  Ordinances  of  the  Gospel  occasionally  to  them. 
Hope  it  will  be  convenient  &  agreeable  to  you  to  make 
an  Exchange  on  Sunday  next  when  M"  Freeman  will  be 
prepared  to  officiate  with  you. 

I  am  Rev*^  Sir  with  very  great  Respect  &  Esteem 
Your  most  obed*  &  very  hum**^^  Servant, 

Tho^  Bulfinch. 

Boston,  Nov.  12,  1782. 
Rev°  M''  Parker. 

TRINITY   CHURCH   RECORDS. 

On  Sunday  Nov  10  the  Rev"*  M*"  Parker  gave  Notice 
to  the  Congregation  of  Trinity  Church  that  he  should 
officiate  the  Sunday  following  at  the  Chapel  &  that  M"" 
Freeman  the  Person  engaged  as  a  Reader  there  would 
read  the  Service  &  a  Sermon  at  Trinity  Church  —  But 
the  Wardens  of  the  Chapel  insisting  that  M'  Freeman 
sh**  be  permitted  to  read  the  Communion  Service  in  the 
Altar  at  Trinity  Church,  &  the  Rev"*  M"^  Parker  not 
consenting  thereto,  the  Proprietors  of  the  Chapel  voted 
that  the  proposed  exchange  be  postponed.  And  at  a 
Meeting  of  the  Min'  Wardens  &  Vestry  of  Trinity 
Church  Nov  17  1782  M^  Parker  laid  before  them  the 
above  correspondence  &  the  Reason  of  postponing  said 
Exchange, 

Voted  that  his  Conduct  herein  be  approved  of. 


232  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

St.  Michael's  Church,  Marblehead,  was  one  of  the 
parishes  served  by  a  lay-reader,  Mr.  Woodward  Abra- 
ham, who  was  assisted  occasionally  by  Edward  Bass  and 
Nathaniel  Fisher.  Bass  had  baptized  as  many  as  four- 
teen persons  in  one  day  at  St.  Michael's  Church.  The 
proprietors,  desiring  a  resident  clergyman,  opened  a 
correspondence  with  an  English  minister,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Williamson ;  and  though  the  parish  selected  another 
man,  the  letter  to  Mr.  Williamson  is  worthy  of  preser- 
vation because  of  its  historical  interest :  — 

TO  THE  REV.   ME.   WILLIAMSON. 

Marblehead,  21''  March  1785. 

Rev°  S^,  —  We  received  your  favour  dated  Nov.  last 
some  time  since,  and  having  taken  time  to  Consult  the 
Minds  of  the  Proprietors  of  S*  Michaels  Church,  and  of 
other  persons  who  usually  worship  there.  We  in  Answer 
inform  you,  of  the  Present  State  of  the  Parish,  and  of 
the  encouragement  they  are  able  and  Desirous  to  offer 
to  any  Candidates  of  good  reputation  :  This  Church 
was  formerly  Considered  by  the  Society  for  the  propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel,  as  one  of  their  Missions,  and  the 
Minister  was  allowed  by  them  a  yearly  salary  of  <£50 
Sterlg.  This  Salary  the  Parish  made  equal  to  about 
£100  Sterl^  by  Taxes  upon  the  Proprietors  and  the 
Rent  or  Improvement  of  the  Glebe,  Consisting  of  a 
Neat  Tenement  within  the  Town  &  there  Estimated  at 
£25  Sterl^  pr.  year.  At  present  the  Parish  Consist  of 
nearly  sixty  families,  a  few  of  whom  are  in  very  easy 
circumstances  and  perhaps  all  are  able  to  pay  something 
towards  the  support  of  a  Minister.     The  Donation  from 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    233 

the  Society  with  the  advantage  of  a  Glebe,  rendered 
our  charges  formerly  very  light ;  so  that  with  less 
ability  (many  Rich  Proprietors  having  left  us)  we  Com- 
pute that  the  sum  of  £40  Sterl^  might  now  be  raised 
by  a  yearly  Tax  without  much  difficulty.  The  Glebe 
we  estimate  at  £15  Sterl^  pr  year  in  the  Present  Circum- 
stances of  the  Town  which  is  much  impoverished  by 
the  late  war,  and  upon  the  whole,  a  Salary  of  £55 
Sterling  is  the  utmost  we  can  offer  as  certain.  In  Con- 
sequence :  S"  of  your  Letter,  Subscription  has  been 
opened,  for  an  additional  encouragement  to  the  first 
minister,  who  shall  be  regularly  settled  by  a  vote  of  the 
Proprietors,  to  be  paid  upon  the  Settlement,  and  near 
£50  Sterling  is  already  subscribed.  But  whether  it 
will  be  possible  to  supply  the  Deficiences  of  future 
years  in  a  like  Method,  is  altogether  precarious  our 
hope  is  however,  that  if  a  Gentleman  of  popular  Talents 
should  engage  with  us,  there  will  be  a  Considerable 
increase  of  the  Society,  and  no  want  of  ability  or  In- 
cKnation  to  give  him  a  Competent  Salary  :  your  very 
frank  and  agreeable  offer  has  induced  us  to  Consider 
the  utmost  of  our  abilities  for  the  Support  of  a  Min- 
ister and  in  justice  to  you,  we  have  not  to  exceed  the 
Truth.  We  readily  promise  in  return,  to  wait  the 
space  of  six  months  for  an  Answer  from  you  before  we 
invite  any  other  Gentleman,  and  if  our  proposals  and 
the  prospect  of  a  Salary  which  we  have  Disclosed, 
answer  your  expectation,  and  induce  you  to  visit  us,  we 
engage  to  afford  you  every  Suitable  preference  as  a 
Candidate,  and  we  already  hope  that  a  future  acquaint- 
ance wiQ  end  in  our  mutual  Satisfaction.     We  shall  in 


234  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

the  Meantime,  S""  make  proper  enquiries  of  the  Gentle- 
men to  whom  you  Kefer  us  for  their  knowledge  of  you, 
that  we  may  not  be  wanting  in  the  caution  becoming  a 
Christian  Society,  in  a  case  of  this  Nature.  We  beg  to 
hear  from  you  by  the  first  opportunity,  and  are.  Sir  in 
behalf  of  the  Proprietors  of  S*  Michaels  Church  with 
all  due  respect  — 

Your  most  obedient  serv*^ 

"^     Warde7is  of  S' 
John  Webeb        \  Michaer s  Church 

\    hy  Order  of  the 

Edward  Bo  wen  d         -4 

J       I'roprietors 

[Copy  of  Letter  Directed  to  the  Rev*^  M'  Williamson 
In  Childwall  near  Liverpool,  in  answer  to  his  of  the 
16*^  of  November  last.] 

The  records  of  the  Marblehead  parish  contain  an- 
other document  which  shows  how  the  churches  without 
ministers  during  the  Revolution  were  compelled  to  seek 
legal  aid  before  they  could  organize  for  regular  religious 
work :  — 

PETITION. 

To  Isaac  Mansfield  Esq.,  one  of  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  within  and  for  the  said  County  of  Essex :  — 

We  the  Subscribers  more  than  five  of  the  Proprietors 
of  the  Church  called  S*  Michaels  Church  and  the  Lands 
under  and  adjoining  thereto  and  the  Glebe  and  Parson- 
age belonging  to  the  said  Church  aU  situate  in  Marble- 
head  in  the  County  aforesaid  pray  your  Honour  to 
grant  a  Warrant  whereby  all  the  said  Proprietors  may 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.    235 

be  Duly  Notified  to  Meet  at  the  said  Church  on  Wednes- 
day the  fifth  Day  of  July  next  at  the  hour  of  Ten  in 
the  forenoon  then  and  there  to  choose  a  Moderator  of 
such  meeting,  a  Clerk  for  the  said  Proprietors  a  Com- 
mittee for  Mannaging  their  affairs  and  such  other 
officers  as  shall  be  found  necessary :  To  Determine 
upon  some  Convenient  Method  of  Calling  Meetings  of 
the  said  Proprietors  in  future.  To  take  into  Consider- 
ation the  Present  State  of  the  said  Proprietary  and  if 
thought  needf  uU  to  "  adopt  Consent  to  and  Confirm  all 
such  Acts  and  Proceedings  as  shall  be  found  pursuant 
to  the  Pious  uses  and  Instructions  of  the  same,  and 
which  have  heretofore  done  or  agreed  to  by  the  occu- 
pants of  the  Pews  in  the  said  church  or  by  those  to 
whom  such  Pews  have  from  time  to  time  allotted  and 
conveyed  and  further  to  Determine  whether  the  said 
Proprietors  together  with  the  Occupants  of  the  said 
Pews  will  agree  to  engage  and  settle  a  Minister  for  the 
said  Church  and  will  make  suitable  provision  for  the 
Support  and  Maintenance  of  any  Minister  who  shall  be 
agreeable  to  a  Majority  of  the  said  Proprietors  that 
shall  be  then  assembled  or  at  any  future  legal  Meeting. 
Also  to  Order  any  Needf  ull  Repairs  to  said  Church  and 
Parsonage  House  and  to  grant  and  vote  such  sum  or 
sums  of  money  as  shall  be  needf  ull  for  those  Purposes 
and  to  agree  upon  some  means  of  raising  the  same  and 
any  other  sums  which  shall  be  wanting  in  future  for 
the  support  of  the  Ministry  and  other  charges  necessary 
for  Maintaining  Public  Worship  and  for  the  Repairs 
of  the  House  and  Church  aforesaid  and  also  if  thought 
needfull  to  grant  and  Confirm  to  the  Church  Wardens 


236  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

and  Vestry  of  the  said  Church  for  the  time  being  and 
to  their  successors  in  said  office  all  the  Right  and  State 
of  the  said  Proprietors  in  the  said  church  and  land 
under  and  adjoining  the  same  together  or  with  the  said 
Glebe  and  Parsonage  thereto  belonging  and  the  appur- 
tenances to  hold  and  Improve  by  them  in  succession  for 
the  Maintenance  of  Public  Worship  and  Support  of 
Ministers  forever  according  to  the  Intentions  of  the 
Donors  and  Purchasers  of  the  said  Premises  and  to 
take  such  other  Measures  as  may  be  necessary  for 
effecting  the  Purposes  aforesaid  and  as  in  duty  bound 
&c. 

Benj.  Bowden  Jun.      John  Weber 
WiLL^  Andrews  Edw.  Bowen 

Tho.  Jarvis  Israel  Foster 

Tho.  Procter  Samuel  Chamblet 

Tho.  Porter  Sam^  Hooper. 

Marblehead,  20,  June,  1786. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CHANGES    IN    THE    PRAYER-BOOK. 

The  most  serious  problem  before  the  churches  In 
Massachusetts  was  the  adoption  of  a  definite  policy  of 
government  and  the  careful  revision  of  the  Prayer- 
Book.  While  Massachusetts  was  assisted  greatly  by 
the  deliberations  of  churchmen  elsewhere,  the  clergy 
receiving  copies  of  the  proceedings  of  the  conventions 
held  in  Philadelphia  and  Middletown,  Connecticut,  the 
churches  maintained  an  independent  attitude,  reserving 
to  themselves  the  right  of  local  government.  As  in 
the  other  States,  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  Pennsylvania, 
New  York,  and  Connecticut,  the  churches  held  their 
conventions,  giving  expression  to  their  own  views,  so 
especially  in  the  commonwealth  was  this  the  case  ;  and 
as  in  Philadelphia  the  churchmen  from  neighbormg 
States  met  for  conference,  so  in  Boston  the  clergy  and 
laity  from  Rhode  Island  and  New  Hampshire  met  with 
those  from  Massachusetts. 

In  order  to  secure  the  best  possible  advice  in  these 
deliberations,  the  active  and  far-seeing  Parker,  at  great 
inconvenience,  travelled  to  New  York,  and  was  present 
at  the  important  convention  of  October  6  and  7,  1784. 
As  a  delegate  appointed  by  the  Massachusetts  conven- 
tion that  met  a  month  earlier,  "  to  meet  and  act  with 
said  representative  body,"  Parker  took  his  seat  with  the 


238  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

other  delegates  from  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Delaware,  and  Maryland.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  committee  appointed  "  to  essay  the  fundamental 
Principles  of  a  general  Constitution  for  this  church  ; " 
and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  was  one  of  the 
most  influential  members  of  the  committee,  —  always 
judicious  and  temperate  in  his  views,  conservative,  but 
with  a  readiness  for  change  when  it  seemed  to  be  de- 
manded by  the  new  life  of  the  churches.  With  the 
Eev.  William  White  and  others,  Parker  aided  in  draw- 
ing up  the  "  fundamental  Principles "  which  con- 
tained the  germ  of  the  future  legislation  of  the  united 
churches ;  the  principles  adopted,  provided  that  there 
should  be  a  general  convention  with  deputies  of  clergy 
and  laymen,  that  bishops  be  consecrated,  and  that  the 
essential  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  England  be  main- 
tained. Parker  attended,  also,  the  convention  held  in 
Middletown,  Connecticut,  which  assembled  to  welcome 
Bishop  Seabury,  he  having  been  consecrated  in  Aber- 
deen, Scotland,  on  November  14,  1784.  Parker  did 
not  go  to  Middletown  as  a  delegate  with  power,  but 
only  in  answer  to  the  courteous  invitation  of  the  clergy 
of  Connecticut,  and  at  the  request  of  Bass  and  Fisher 
"  to  learn  what  measures  they  mean  to  adopt,"  as  indi- 
cated in  the  following  note  :  — 

TO   REV.    MR.    PARKER. 

Salem,  July  28'"  1785. 

Rev'd  Sir,  —  We  request  you  to  attend  the  ap- 
proaching Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Clergy  to  be 
holden  at  the  Town  of  Middletown,  in  Connecticut,  then 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  239 

and  there  to  learn  what  measures  they  mean  to  adopt ; 
in   order  to  the  maintaining  of  divine  worship  in  the 
Episcopal  Church,  &c.  &c.  &c. 
We  are 
Rev'd  Sir, 

Your  very  H'ble  Ser't 

Edward  Bass, 
Minister  of  S'  PauVs  Church  JSfeiolury  Port 

Nath'el  Fisher, 
Minister  of  S'  Peter's  Church  Salem  * 

In  a  personal  letter  to  Parker,  Bass  shows  his  great 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  church  at  large,  and 
expresses  his  opinion  with  frankness  about  the  neces- 
sary changes  to  be  made  in  the  liturgy  and  the  need 
for  a  general  council  of  the  churches.  In  the  opening 
of  the  letter  he  is  doubtless  referring  to  the  Middletown 
Convention,  though  he  also  may  have  had  in  mind  the 
approaching  Massachusetts  Convention  which  was  to  be 
held  September  7,  1785. 

TO   REV.    MR.   PARKER. 

Newbury  Pt.  July  7th.  1785. 

Rev'd  and  Dear  Sir,  —  I  was  hindered  by  certain 
untoward  accidents  from  paying  you  a  short  visit  in 
my  way  to  and  from  Providence,  which  I  intended  to 
do,  as  for  other  reasons,  so  particularly  to  talk  with  you 
upon  the  approaching  Convention.  Is  it  like  to  be 
universal  ?  Are  we  this  way  like  to  have  any  hand  in 
it  ?  If  so  in  what  manner  ?  Is  a  Delegate,  or  more, 
^  Perry,  Historical  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  70. 


240  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

to  be  sent  from  hence,  to  represent  our  scatter'd  Congre- 
gations ?  Are  all  the  vacant  Churches  among  us  to  be 
sent  to  ?  Do  you  learn  by  any  means  what  is  like  to 
be  done  with  the  Liturgy  either  in  the  way  of  addition 
or  diminution?  I  should  like  your  answer  to  these 
questions,  or  any  others  which  you  may  think  I  ought 
to  have  asked.  As  to  the  Liturgy,  I  have  thought  we 
might  part  with  the  Athanas'n  Creed,  one  or  two  Lord's 
prayers,  and  leave  the  use  of  Sponsors  to  the  option 
of  those  who  have  children  to  christen ;  which,  in  my 
opinion,  would  be  much  better  than  to  let  it  remain  a 
Law  of  the  Church  and  at  the  same  time  unobserved  by 
the  greater  part  of  her  Members,  as  I  am  told,  is,  and 
has  been  the  case  in  the  Southern  Colonies  and  in  Con- 
necticut. Proper  prayers  must  be  substituted  for  the 
American  Government  in  the  room  of  those  for  the 
King  and  Royal  Family.  We  ought  to  have  a  code  of 
Ch'ch  laws  or  Canons,  plain  and  simple.  Some  power 
should  be  given  to  the  Bishop  or  Bishops,  but  our 
Dernier  resort  must  be  in  a  general  Council,  which 
should  be  supream  and  have  the  power  of  censuring  or 
depriving  Bishops  as  there  may  be  occasion.  Such  are 
some  of  the  thoughts  that  have  occurred  to  me  upon 
this  Subject.  But  tho'  we  have  a  happy  opportunity  of 
making  our  Liturgy  appear  in  some  points  to  greater 
advantage,  yet  for  my  part  I  had  much  rather  remain  as 
we  are  than  break  into  Parties,  or  run  into  a  thousand 
little  schisms  to  the  destruction  of  all  harmony  and 
uniformity,  as  I  cannot  help  fearing,  is  too  likely  to  be 
the  case  if  once  we  begin  to  alter  or  to  make  innovations. 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  241 

The  Communication  of  your  Seutim'ts  upon  the  Subject 
would  be  very  agreeable  to 

Yr  affectionate  Bror.  and  very  hum'le  Serv't 

Edward  Bass. 

Parker  attended  the  "  Middletown  Convocation," 
which  was  held  on  August  3  and  4,  1785.  The  meet- 
ing was  principally  taken  up  by  addresses  from  Bishop 
Seabury  to  his  clergy,  and  congratulations  on  the  part 
of  the  clergy  to  the  bishop.  Certain  changes  in  the 
Hturgy  were  proposed,  as  Parker  says  :  "  At  my  request 
the  Bishop  with  his  clergy  agreed  to  make  some  altera- 
tions in  the  Liturgy  and  offices  of  the  Church."  ^  But 
the  changes  were  very  few,  and  these  so  alarmed  the 
people  of  Connecticut  that  Seabury  thought  best  not  to 
adopt  them,  for,  he  says,  writing  to  Parker  a  little  later  : 
"  Between  the  time  of  our  parting  at  Middletown  and 
the  Clerical  meeting  at  New  Haven  it  was  found  that 
the  Church  people  in  Connecticut  were  much  alarmed 
at  the  thought  of  any  considerable  alterations  being 
made  in  the  Prayer  Book  ;  and,  upon  the  whole,  it  was 
judged  best  that  no  alterations  should  be  attempted  at 
present."  ^  This  unwillingness  to  make  alterations  indi- 
cated the  conservatism  of  the  churchmanship  of  Con- 
necticut ;  and  the  opposition  to  the  granting  of  power 
to  the  laity  became  a  marked  characteristic  of  the 
people.  When  the  Connecticut  clergy  met  at  Wood- 
bury to  elect  Seabury,  the  whole  proceeding  was  kept 
"a   profound   secret   even   from   their   most   intimate 

1  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  90. 

2  Ibid.,  p.  308. 


242  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

friends  of  the  laity."  *  Seabury  expressed  himself  vig- 
orously in  opposition  to  lay  influence  in  the  church 
when  he  said :  "  I  cannot  give  up  what  I  deem  essential 
to  Episcopal  government,  by  admitting  laymen  into  any 
share  of  it,  farther  than  the  external  or  temporal  state 
of  things  may  require.  To  subject  a  Bishop  to  the 
censure  of  a  consistory  of  Presbyters  and  Laymen  even 
with  a  Bishop  at  their  head,  I  cannot  consent.  From 
that  thraldom  the  Church  in  Connecticut  must,  if  it 
please  God,  be  preserved."  ^ 

There  is  nothing  that  so  sharply  differentiates  the 
attitude  of  Massachusetts  from  that  of  Connecticut  as 
this  opposition  to  alterations  and  fear  of  the  laity.  At 
the  convention,  about  to  be  held  in  Boston,  a  month 
later  than  the  Middletown  Convention,  there  were  more 
laymen  present  than  clergymen,  and  the  alterations 
accepted  were  in  many  instances  radical.  Massachu- 
setts had  a  vigorous  set  of  laymen  who  considered 
themselves  an  integral  part  of  the  church,  and  whose 
voices  were  heard  on  all  the  important  measures  that 
were  proposed.  To  speak  of  a  "  New  England  atti- 
tude "  is  to  ignore  these  very  significant  facts,  which 
gave  an  impetus  to  Massachusetts  at  the  outset  and 
established  her  traditions,  that  have  since  been  so  per- 
sistent. The  interest  of  the  laymen  in  the  affairs  of 
the  churches  seems  to  have  been  most  intense  in  New- 
buryport,  where,  under  the  guidance  of  their  rector, 
Edward  Bass,  Tristram  Dalton  was  elected  to  represent 
the  parish  at  the  Boston   Convention,  and   a   set   of 

^  Beardsley,  History  of  the  Church  in,  Connecticut,  vol.  i.  p.  346. 
a  lUd.y  p.  401. 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  243 

instructions  to  their  delegates  was  drawn  up  by  John 
Tracy  and  Dudley  Atkins.  These  "  instructions  "  have 
never  been  printed  in  full,  but  as  they  are  of  great 
value  in  showing  the  temper  of  the  Massachusetts  men, 
they  can  hardly  be  omitted  here.  As  a  state  paper, 
they  have  few  equals  in  the  history  of  the  early  Amer- 
ican Church.  While  loyal  and  reverent,  the  writers 
see  the  need  of  decided  changes  in  the  offices  of  the 
church  to  make  them  more  suitable  for  the  new  condi- 
tions of  the  churches  in  America. 

INSTRUCTIONS   TO   TRISTRAM   DALTON. 

You  being  elected  as  a  Delegate  for  this  church  in 
the  Convention  which  is  to  meet  in  Boston  on  the 
seventh  day  of  September  next ;  we  think  it  best  as  well 
for  our  own  satisfaction  as  for  your  ease  in  the  busi- 
ness which  will  be  before  you  at  that  time,  to  express  to 
you  our  sentiments  on  the  subject  of  some  alterations 
we  wish  should  take  place  in  the  Liturgy  now  in  use 
with  us. 

Laying  it  as  a  Basis  of  all  your  deliberations  and 
Resolutions,  which  is  by  no  means  to  be  departed  from, 
that  the  church  is  to  continue  Episcopal  and  that 
if  Possible  a  Connection  may  be  obtained  with  Some 
Bishop  of  Apostolic  Succession  from  whom  we  may  in 
future  expect  ministers  duly  ordained  to  supply  the 
churches  in  this  Country.  We  desire  that  devout  col- 
lects &  responses  for  the  different  Departments  of  the 
Government  under  which  we  now  have  the  happiness  to 
live  may  be  inserted  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  in 
the  stead  of  those  now  contained  therein  for  the  King 


244  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

and  Government  of  Great  Britain.  The  Federal  Gov- 
ernment of  these  United  States,  the  Municipal  Govern- 
ment of  our  sister  States  in  general  and  the  Several 
branches  of  legislative,  judicial,  and  executive  authority 
in  this  Commonwealth,  we  wish  always  to  remember  in 
our  Public  addresses  to  that  God  "  By  whom  Kings 
reign,  and  Princes  decree  justice." 

We  think  it  convenient  (as  the  venerable  Reformers 
of  the  Liturgy  of  the  English  Church  have  taught  us), 
"  that  every  country  should  use  such  ceremonies  as  they 
shall  think  best  to  the  setting  forth  of  God's  honour 
and  glory  and  the  inducing  the  people  to  a  more  perfect 
and  Godly  living,  without  error  or  superstition  j  and 
that  they  should  put  away  other  things  which,  from 
time  to  time,  they  perceive  to  be  most  abused,  as  in 
men's  ordinances  it  often  chanceth  diversely  in  divers 
countries."  The  Creed  used  in  our  Divine  Service,  com- 
monly called  the  Creed  of  Athanasius,  although  it  may  be 
founded  in  the  Scriptures,  and  at  the  time  of  its  Intro- 
duction might  have  been  necessary  to  favour  very  wise 
and  good  purposes  —  at  this  day  affords  great  offense, 
as  it  contains  (to  say  the  least),  many  things  hard  to  be 
understood,  which  give  pain  to  many  persons  and  well- 
disposed  Christians  in  the  Repetition.  It  is  our  opinion, 
therefore,  that  it  would  be  wise  if  it  were  entirely  omit- 
ted out  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

But  if  you  find  your  brethren  thoroughly  opposed  to 
this,  we  do  not  wish  you  to  press  it  eagerly,  but  to 
endeavor  that  a  clause  may  be  inserted  in  the  Rubric 
empowering  the  minister  and  Vestry  of  each  Church  to 
direct  the  reading  or  omission  of  it,  —  as  should  seem 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  245 

to  them  most  expedient,  and  we  cannot  but  think  that 
it  would  have  a  very  great  tendency  to  the  Union  & 
Happiness  of  the  Churches  if  a  general  authority  were 
lodged  with  the  same  Body  respecting  every  other  part 
of  the  Service  to  which  it  is  conceived  objections  may 
be  made. 

Of  the  Thirty-nine  Articles  of  Religion  you  will 
observe  that  many  of  them  were  made  to  guard  against 
heresies  of  which  at  this  day  we  trust  there  is  little 
danger.  Several  of  them  are  entirely  foreign  to  our 
present  Situation  as  an  independent  Church  ;  and  these 
we  wish  expunged.  While  we  are  upon  this  subject  we 
cannot  but  express  our  earnest  Desire  that  no  particular 
Confession  or  belief  should  be  required  of  Clergy  or 
Laity  other  than  such  as  the  Christian  world  unite  in 
maintaining.  In  this  age  men  will  form  their  own 
opinions,  and  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the  Declara- 
tion of  any  body  of  men  (be  they  never  so  respectable), 
can  prevent  them.  It  seems  hardly  necessary  to  add 
that  the  Exacting  these  Declarations  will  debar  many 
worthy  characters  from  our  Communion. 

The  use  of  Sponsors  in  Baptism  was  undoubtedly  at 
its  original  Institution  of  great  ser\dce  in  the  Christian 
world,  and  is  at  this  day  if  pursued  in  the  true  Inten- 
tion and  Spirit  of  it,  highly  to  be  esteemed.  But  like 
everything  of  human  appointment,  it  is  liable  to  degen- 
erate ;  and  it  gives  us  pain  to  observe  that  the  obli- 
gations taken  upon  them  by  the  Godfathers  and  God- 
mothers on  that  occasion,  have  too  little  influence  on 
their  future  conduct.  It  is  to  be  washed  therefore  and 
we  desire  you  to  use  your   influence  to  obtain   that 


246  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Parents  may  be  permitted  (if  they  be  Persons  of  Sober 
Life  and  Conversation),  to  offer  their  own  children  for 
Baptism,  and  to  enter  into  those  engagements  which  are 
prescribed,  to  Godfathers  and  Godmothers;  on  them 
have  the  hiws  of  Nature,  the  revealed  laws  of  God,  and 
the  laws  of  human  society  laid  the  obligations,  and  we 
wish  to  act  in  conformity  to  those  laws  still  leaving  it 
at  the  option  of  parents  to  prefer  others  to  the  office 
as  they  shall  see  fit,  and  as  it  is  generally  true  that  at 
the  time  of  their  Ministering  the  Ordinance  one  of 
the  Parents  is  unable  to  appear  at  the  Font,  it  would 
be  convenient  that  in  that  case  or  for  other  necessary 
causes  to  be  made  known  to  the  minister.  Proxies  might 
be  permitted  to  represent  them.  As  the  frequent  Repe- 
titions of  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  our  service  we  conceive 
tends  to  take  from  that  awe  and  reverence  which  ought 
ever  to  accompany  the  use  of  it ;  we  should  be  glad 
that  it  may  be  in  some  places  omitted,  leaving  it  for 
the  Convention  to  determine  in  what  particular  parts  of 
the  service  it  may  best  be  done.  Inasmuch  as  the  Ab- 
solution contained  in  the  Order  for  the  Visitation  of 
the  Sick,  has,  and  we  fear  ever  will  give  offense  to 
many  worthy  professors  of  our  Religion  ;  without  going 
into  an  examination  of  the  Power  or  Right  of  the 
Clergy  to  forgive  the  sins  of  their  Fellow-creatures,  we 
wish  to  see  that  part  of  our  service  utterly  expunged. 
The  same  is  our  Desire  respecting  the  use  of  the  sign 
of  the  Cross  in  Baptism ;  and  the  charge  given  by  the 
minister  to  the  Godfathers  and  Godmothers  to  see  the 
children  that  are  baptized  brought  to  the  Bishop  to  be 
Confirmed ;  the  former  for  the  offense  it  gives  to  many 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  247 

weak  minds,  and  the  latter  as  it  is  in  most  cases  impos- 
sible, or  extremely  inconvenient  to  be  complyed  with. 
We  do  not  however  in  proposing  the  foregoing  altera- 
tions, desire  to  disturb  the  Freedom  of  disquisition 
which  ought  to  take  place  in  your  Convention,  or  to 
press  them  so  far  as  in  any  Degree  to  interrupt  that 
entire  Harmony  which  we  hope  will  always  attend  the 
Profession  of  our  Worship ;  nor  are  we  willing  for  the 
sake  of  minute  differences  in  opinion  to  separate  our- 
selves from  the  Episcopal  Church  in  these  States.  But 
as  in  matters  which  concern  our  tenderest  interests  we 
cannot  be  too  attentive,  nor  can  we  as  we  conceive, 
delegate  to  any  one  Power  to  Bind  us  until  we  are 
made  acquainted  with  those  things  to  which  we  are  to 
be  bound  ;  we  expect  that  you  do  not  determine  finally 
on  any  other  matters  than  are  above  suggested  until  you 
shall  have  made  Report  to  us  of  the  Proceedings  of 
Convention  and  we  have  an  opportunity  to  consider 
them  ourselves.  Finally,  sir,  our  general  Desire  of  you 
In  the  Conduct  of  this  Undertaking  is  not  to  gratify 
this  or  that  Party,  in  any  of  their  unreasonable  De- 
mands ;  but  to  do  that  which  to  your  best  understand- 
ing you  shall  conceive  may  most  tend  to  the  preservation 
of  peace  and  Unity  in  the  Church,  the  procuring  of 
Reverence,  and  exciting  of  piety  and  devotion  in  the 
Public  Worship  of  God ;  and  the  cutting  of  Occasion 
from  those  that  may  seek  occasion  of  Cavil  and  Quarrel 
against  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church ;  and  we  wish  you 
to  follow  the  example  of  the  Compilers  of  that  Liturgy 
by  keeping  the  mean  between  the  two  extremes  of  too 
much  stiffness  in  refusing  and  too  much  easiness  in 


248  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

admitting  any  Variations  from  it.  For  as  on  the  one 
side  common  experience  showeth  that  where  a  Change 
hath  been  made  of  things  advisedly  established,  (no 
evident  necessity  requiring)  sundry  inconveniences  have 
thereupon  ensued  and  those  many  times  more  and 
greater  than  the  evils  that  were  intended  to  be  reme- 
died by  such  Change,  so  on  the  other  side  the  par- 
ticular forms  of  Divine  Worship  and  the  Rites  and 
Ceremonies  appointed  to  be  used  therein  being  things 
in  their  own  nature  alterable,  and  so  acknowledged,  it 
is  but  reasonable  that  upon  weighty  and  important 
occasions  such  changes  should  be  made  therein  as  to 
those  duly  authorised  by  the  Church  should  from  time 
to  time  seem  necessary  or  expedient. 

And  we  sincerely  pray  that  the  Supreme  Head  of  the 
Church  wiU  be  graciously  pleased  to  afford  his  Heavenly 
Guidance  and  Direction  to  you  and  your  Brethren  in 
the  important  Concerns  that  shall  be  under  your  Con- 
sideration ;  that  your  Deliberations  may  be  accompanied 
with  that  spirit  of  Charity,  candour,  &  Liberality,  which 
is  a  distinguishing  mark  of  real  Christianity  ;  and  that 
the  result  of  them  may  be  such  as  to  satisfy  your  own 
consciences,  and  conduce  to  the  general  welfare  of  the 
Churches,  and  tend  to  the  Promotion  of  Piety,  Virtue, 
and  true  Rehgion  in  our  Land. 

John  Tracy, 
Dudley  Atkins. 
Newbubyport,  August  19, 1785. 

The  influence  of  these  instructions  is  plainly  seen 
in  the  acts  of  the  Massachusetts  Convention,  held  in 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  249 

Boston,  September  7  and  8,  1785.  There  were  present 
four  clergymen  and  ten  laymen.  The  clergy  were  : 
Rev.  Edward  Bass;  Rev.  William  Willard  Wheeler, 
Rector  of  the  united  churches  at  Scituate,  Marshfield, 
Braintree,  and  Bridgewater  ;  Rev.  Nathaniel  Fisher,  of 
St.  Peter's  Church,  Salem  ;  and  Rev.  Samuel  Parker 
of  Trinity  Church,  Boston.  The  most  prominent  lay- 
men were  Hon.  Tristram  Dalton,  Stephen  Greenleaf, 
and  Benjamin  Greene  of  Trinity,  Boston ;  John  Usher, 
from  Bristol,  Rhode  Island ;  John  Bours,  from  New- 
port, and  Dr.  Francis  Borland  of  Queen's  Chapel, 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire. 

Edward  Bass  was  honored  by  being  elected  president 
of  the  convention,  a  fact  which  shows  the  position  he 
occupied  in  the  minds  of  the  clergy  and  laymen  alike. 
It  was  at  the  outset  voted  that  the  clergy  and  laity 
deliberate  in  one  body,  though  voting  separately ;  and 
that  a  concurrence  of  both  orders  should  be  necessary 
to  give  validity  to  any  measure. 

While  the  alterations  in  the  liturgy  made  at 
Middletown  formed  the  basis  for  their  deliberations, 
the  members  of  the  convention  made  other  decided 
changes.  The  first  necessary  revision  was  in  the 
prayers  for  the  British  king  and  government.  All 
references  to  both  were  stricken  out,  and  prayers  for 
the  governor  and  council  were  inserted  instead.  The 
Te  Deum  was  altered  ;  and,  in  the  Apostles'  Creed,  the 
expression  "  He  descended  into  Hell "  was  omitted. 
The  Athanasian  Creed  was  entirely  omitted ;  and  any 
congregation  was  given  the  right  to  use  or  omit,  as  it 
saw  fit,  the  Nicene  Creed.     In  the  ofiice  of  Holy  Com- 


250  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

munion,  the  word  "  damnation "  in  the  first  warning 
was  changed  to  "  condemnation."  Parents  were  per- 
mitted to  become  the  sponsors  of  their  own  children. 
The  baptismal  office  was  further  altered  by  leaving  out 
the  phrase,  "  All  men  are  conceived  and  born  in  sin  ; " 
the  use  of  the  sign  of  the  cross  was  left  discretionary. 
The  absolution  in  the  Order  for  the  Visitation  of  the 
Sick  was  expunged.  It  also  was  declared  immaterial 
whether  the  Communion  Service  was  read  "in  the 
Reading  Desk  or  in  the  altar." 

The  changes  in  the  state  prayers  were  adopted  at 
once  by  the  congregations,  but  the  other  alterations 
were  not  to  go  into  effect  until  it  was  seen  how  far 
the  other  churches  "  will  conform  to  said  alterations." 
Copies  of  the  Massachusetts  proposals  were  sent  to  the 
different  influential  parishes  in  the  several  States. 

This  revision  of  the  liturgy  is  a  clear  indication  of 
the  trend  of  the  Massachusetts  men  toward  formu- 
laries simplified  in  structure  and  with  less  doctrinal 
definition  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  English  Prayer- 
Book.  There  is  also  an  evident  tendency  away  from 
ecclesiastical  pretensions,  as  is  seen  in  the  action  on  the 
absolution  in  the  Visitation  of  the  Sick,  and  a  direct 
attempt  to  make  the  worship  capable  of  greater  elas- 
ticity, by  giving  a  discretionary  power  into  the  hands 
of  each  congregation.  Parker,  who  afterwards  grew 
more  conservative,  went  so  far  as  to  say  that  "  Some  of 
the  Doctrines  held  up  in  the  39  Articles  I  think  are 
not  founded  in  Scripture."  ^ 

At  this  convention  Bass  was  appointed  on  a  commit- 

^  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  91. 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  251 

tee  to  form  a  collect  to  be  inserted  among  the  occasional 
prayers  for  those  "  who  have  lost  their  friends,  for 
persons  sick,  and  for  persons  bound  to  sea." 

In  all  these  deliberations  for  the  organization  of  the 
churches,  one  of  the  strongest  parishes  in  Massachusetts 
was  not  represented.  King's  Chapel,  Boston,  the  old 
historic  church  in  the  commonwealth,  held  aloof  from 
the  conventions  and  the  attendant  discussions.  The 
proprietors  of  the  chapel  made  their  own  parochial 
changes  in  the  liturgy,  and  considered  themselves 
justified  by  the  fact  that  the  separate  parishes  after 
the  Revolution  owed  no  allegiance  to  any  central  au- 
thority. 

The  reasons  for  this  independent  attitude  were  well 
known.  King's  Chapel  had  been  used  during  the  war 
as  a  place  of  worship  by  the  Old  South  congregation, 
but  toward  the  close  of  hostilities  the  EpiscopaHans 
used  their  own  service  for  one  half  of  the  day,  and 
then  at  length  resumed  complete  possession  of  the 
building.  On  September  8,  1782,  the  senior  warden, 
Dr.  Thomas  Bulfinch,  acting  for  the  proprietors,  called 
Mr.  James  Freeman,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  to 
be  lay-reader  of  the  parish.  When  Mr.  Freeman  ac- 
cepted the  position,  he  was  told  that  he  would  be 
expected  "  to  read  the  service  of  the  church  every  Sun- 
day, and  also  on  Saints'-days  ;  to  deliver  a  sermon  of 
your  own  composing  as  often  as  is  convenient.  .  .  . 
The  proprietors  consent  to  such  alterations  in  the  Ser- 
vice as  are  made  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Parker,  and  leave  the 
use  of  the  Athanasian  Creed  at  your  discretion."  ^ 

'  Foote,  Annals  of  King^s  Chapel,  vol.  ii.  p.  380. 


252  LIFE   OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

These  simple  alterations  did  not  long  satisfy  Free- 
man. His  studies  and  reflections  had  led  him  to  en- 
tertain grave  doubts  concerning  the  doctrine  of  the 
Trinity.  The  Unitarianism  that  had  been  making  its 
way  in  New  England,  especially  in  Congregational  pul- 
pits, had  greatly  influenced  the  young  "reader"  of 
King's  Chapel.  Forthwith  he  preached  a  series  of 
sermons  dealing  with  Christian  doctrine,  in  which  he 
made  such  a  bold  statement  of  his  opposition  to  what 
had  been  considered  orthodox  beliefs,  that  he  was 
surprised  when  the  congregation  upheld  him,  and  re- 
sponded promptly  to  his  suggestion  that  very  decided 
changes  be  made  in  the  Prayer-Book.  A  committee 
was  appointed  to  make  the  alterations  ;  and  on  June 
19, 1785,  it  was  voted  "  that  the  Common  Prayer,  as  it 
now  stands  amended,  be  adopted  by  this  church  as  a 
form  of  prayer  to  be  used  in  future  by  this  church  and 
congregation."  The  vote  stood  twenty  yeas  to  seven 
nays.  All  references  to  the  Trinity  were  omitted,  the 
substitution  in  the  doxology  being,  "  to  the  King  eter- 
nal, immortal,  invisible."  The  Nicene  Creed  was  also 
omitted,  and  two  clauses  in  the  Apostles'  Creed  were 
not  retained  :  "  He  descended  into  Hell,"  and  "  The 
holy  Catholic  Church."  Prayers  to  Christ  and  through 
Christ  were  expunged.  The  whole  tendency  of  the 
book,  as  amended,  was  intentionally  away  from  any 
Trinitarian  belief.  The  motives  that  actuated  the 
King's  Chapel  proprietors  were  thus  described  by  Mr. 
Charles  Miller  in  the  course  of  his  correspondence  with 
Dr.  William  White,  of  Philadelphia  :  "  The  object  of 
our  Society  in  the  new  liturgy  was  to  leave  out  all  such 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  253 

expressions  as  wound  the  conscience  of  a  Unitarian, 
without  introducing  any  which  should  displease  a  Trin- 
itarian. A  multitude  of  different  opinions  may  be 
entertained  by  Christians  who  conscientiously  use  the 
same  liturgy."  ^ 

When  these  changes  were  made,  the  parish  of  King's 
Chapel  had  no  intention  of  separating  from  the  Epis- 
copal churches  in  America.  It  had  exercised  its  right 
of  local  government  further  than  other  parishes  and 
without  joint  cooperation  with  them.  It  was  this 
persistent  parochial  independence  that  William  White 
objected  to  when  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Miller  that  "  I  took 
the  liberty  to  object  to  your  making  of  your  liturgy  a 
congregational  act.  .  .  .  This  would  be  foreign  to  every 
idea  of  Episcopal  government.  ...  So  fully  am  I  in 
this  sentiment,  as  to  believe  that  in  case  of  perseverance 
in  your  present  plan,  you  cannot  long  continue  to  pro- 
fess yourselves  Episcopalians,  unless  in  a  sense  in  which 
the  word  is  not  customarily  used."  ^ 

The  development  of  the  affairs  of  King's  Chapel 
showed  how  necessary  was  the  warning  of  White.  An 
application  was  made  to  Bishop  Seabury,  soon  after  his 
arrival  in  Connecticut,  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Free- 
man, who  was  still  a  lay-reader.  This  application  was 
denied ;  and  a  second  request  in  June,  1786,  was  also 
refused.  Then  a  further  attempt  was  made  to  secure 
Freeman's  ordination  by  soliciting  the  aid  of  Bishop 
Provoost,  of  New  York,  who  said  he  must  defer  the 
matter  until  he  could  present  it  before  the  General  Con- 

1  Wilson,  Memoir  of  Bishop  White,  p.  334. 

2  Ibid.,  pp.  325,  326. 


254  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

vention.  Since  this  convention  was  not  to  meet  before 
1789,  and  the  constant  refusals  had  shown  the  hopeless- 
ness of  further  attempts,  the  leaders  at  King's  Chapel 
were  ready  for  decided  action.  They  wanted  to  have 
their  minister  ordained ;  and  if  they  could  not  secure 
ordination  in  one  way  they  must  obtain  it  in  another. 
The  suggestion  of  obtaining  Congregational  ordination 
was  not  long  entertained,  because  this  would  involve 
serious  questions  concerning  the  rights  of  property  in 
the  church  building,  as  was  clearly  seen  by  Parker  of 
Trinity,  who  said  :  "  Should  he  (Freeman)  have  recourse 
to  the  Congregational  clergy  and  be  ordained  by  them, 
all  pretence  of  their  being  an  Episcopal  Church  must  be 
at  end,  and  a  way  will  be  opened  to  the  minority  to 
recover  the  house."  ^  Shut  off  thus  in  each  direction 
from  the  desired  object,  the  only  other  method  open  to 
them  was  to  ordain  then*  own  minister  by  laying  their 
own  hands  upon  him.  This  last  escape  from  the  diffi- 
culty the  proprietors  decided  to  avail  themselves  of. 
The  day  set  apart  for  this  peculiar  and  interesting 
service  was  November  18,  1787.  The  minority,  how- 
ever, representing  in  addition  twenty-nine  pew-owners, 
who  had  fled  during  the  Revolution,  but  whose  pews 
had  been  declared  legally  forfeited  to  the  church  in 
the  general  confiscation  of  the  property  of  the  loyal- 
ists, —  these  made  a  vigorous  protest  against  the  con- 
templated ordination :  "  We  therefore  the  subscribers, 
in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  other  original  proprietors  of 
this  Church,  who  have  authorized  us  to  act  for  them, 
do  hereby  enter  our  most  solemn  and  serious  protest 

^  Wilson,  Memoir  of  Bishop  White,  p.  342. 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  255 

and  dissent  against  all  such  proceedings  and  particu- 
larly against  the  settlement  and  pretended  ordination  of 
the  said  James  Freeman,  declaring  our  utter  abhorrence 
of  measures  so  contrary  to  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and 
worship  of  an  Episcopal  Church,  and  which  will  include 
in  them  a  total  alienation  of  the  property  of  said  house 
from  the  use  intended  by  the  original  donors  or 
founders."  ^ 

In  spite  of  all  protests,  on  the  day  appointed,  the 
ceremony  of  ordaining  Mr.  Freeman  took  place.  After 
the  reading  of  evening  prayer,  the  senior  warden, 
Mr.  Bulfinch,  delivered  an  address  setting  forth  the 
object  of  the  service  and  the  approbation  thereto  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  chapel.  When  Mr.  Freeman 
signified  his  willingness  to  accept  the  ordination  as 
"  valid  and  apostolic,"  the  senior  warden,  laying  his 
hand  on  Mr.  Freeman's  head,  pronounced  the  following 
words:  — 

"  I  do,  then,  as  the  Senior  Warden  of  this  Church, 
by  virtue  of  the  authority  delegated  to  me,  in  the 
presence  of  Almighty  God  and  before  these  witnesses, 
declare  you,  the  Rev.  James  Freeman,  to  be  the  Rector, 
Minister,  Priest,  Pastor,  public  Teacher,  and  teaching 
Elder  of  this  Episcopal  Church ;  in  testimony  whereof 
I  deliver  you  this  book,  containing  the  holy  oracles  of 
Almighty  God,  enjoining  a  due  observance  of  all  the 
precepts  contained  therein,  particularly  those  which 
respect  the  duty  and  office  of  a  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ.     And  the  Lord  bless  you  and  keep  you,  the 

^  Greenwood,  History  of  King's  Chapel,  p.  183. 


256  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Lord  lift  up  the  light  of  his  countenance  upon  you,  and 
give  you  peace  now  and  for  evermore."  ^ 

Without  entering  into  any  question  concerning  the 
meaning  or  validity  of  this  act  of  ordination,  nor  the 
further  question  concerning  the  right  of  the  proprietors 
to  ahenate  the  property,  it  is  at  once  evident  to  any  one 
famihar  with  the  circumstances  that  by  this  act  King's 
Chapel  ceased  to  be  an  Episcopal  Church.  There  is  no 
sense  whatever  in  which  it  could  be  called  an  Episcopal 
Church  ;  even  when  one  considers  the  unorganized  con- 
dition of  the  post-Revolutionary  churches,  such  an  act 
was  at  variance  with  every  law  and  tradition  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  There  were  bishops  from  whom 
ordination  could  have  been  rightfully  received,  if  the 
minister  and  people  had  been  wilHng  to  submit  to  the 
requirements  of  the  Church  ;  their  insubordination  was 
a  direct  means  of  separation  and  schism  by  which 
King's  Chapel  became  "  the  first  Unitarian  Church  in 
America."  However,  the  senior  warden  insisted  on 
ordaining  Mr.  Freeman  as  "  priest  of  this  Episcopal 
Church."  It  was  the  assertion  of  this  assumed  fact 
that  stirred  up  the  clergy  of  Massachusetts  and  caused 
them  to  send  abroad  a  public  protest.  Edward  Bass, 
who  headed  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  protest,  and 
his  friends  were  not  protesting  so  much  against  the 
schism  as  against  the  retention  of  the  name  Episcopal, 
when  all  claims  to  the  titles  had  been  cast  off.  The 
following  protest  was  printed  in  "  The  Massachusetts 
Centinel,"  January  2,  1788  :  — 

1  Greenwood,  History  of  King's  Chapel,  pp.  192, 194. 


CHANGES  IN  THE  PRAYER-BOOK.  257 

THE  PROTEST. 

Whereas  a  certain  congregation  in  Boston  calling 
themselves  the  first  Episcopal  Church  in  said  town,  have, 
in  an  irregular  unconstitutional  manner,  introduced  a 
Liturgy  essentially  differing  from  any  used  in  the  Epis- 
copal Churches  in  this  Commonwealth,  and  in  the 
United  States,  not  to  mention  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  general,  and  have  also  assumed  to  themselves 
a  power  unprecedented  in  the  said  Church,  of  separating 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry  Mr.  James  Freeman,  who 
has  for  some  time  past  been  their  reader,  and  of  them- 
selves have  authorized,  or  pretendedly  authorized  him 
to  administer  the  sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper ;  and  at  the  same  time  most  inconsistently  and 
absurdly  take  to  themselves  the  name  and  style  of  an 
Episcopal  Church.  We  the  ministers  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  whose  names  are  underwi-itten, 
do  hereby  declare  the  proceedings  of  said  congregation 
usually  meeting  in  the  Stone  Chapel  in  Boston  to  be 
irregular,  unconstitutional,  diametrically  opposite  to 
every  principle  adopted  in  any  Episcopal  Church,  sub- 
versive of  all  order  and  regularity,  and  pregnant  with 
consequences  fatal  to  the  interests  of  rehgion,  and  we 
do  hereby  and  in  this  public  manner,  protest  against 
the  aforesaid  proceedings,  to  the  end  that  all  those  of 
our  communion  wherever  dispersed,  may  be  cautioned 
against  receiving  said  reader  or  preacher,  Mr.  James 
Freeman,  as  a  clergyman  of  our  church,  or  holdmg 
any  communion  with  him  as  such,  and  may  be  in- 
duced to  look  upon  his  congregation  in  the  light,  in 


258  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

which  it  ought  to  be  looked  upon,  by  all  true  Episco- 
palians. 

Edward  Bass,  St.  Paul's,  Newburyport. 

Nathaniel  Fisher,  St.  Peter's  Church,  Salem. 

Thomas  Fitch  Oliver,  St.  Michael's  Church,  Mar- 
blehead. 

William  Montague,  Christ  Church,  Boston. 

Samuel  Parker,  Trinity  Church,  Boston. 

John  Cousens  Ogden,  Queen's  Chapel,  Portsmouth, 
N.  H. 

The  protest  was  answered  by  the  rhetorical  exuber- 
ance of  Dr.  Belknap  in  such  a  manner  that  the  convic- 
tion is  soon  formed  that  the  wardens  and  other  members 
of  the  congregation  of  King's  Chapel  knew  very  well 
that  the  word  Episcopal  was  "  used  in  other  than  the 
customary  sense,"  as  Bishop  White  had  wisely  re- 
marked some  time  before.  Dr.  Belknap,  in  an  article 
with  the  interesting  title,  "  A  Roland  for  your  Oliver," 
exclaimed,  concerning  the  effect  of  the  ordination  act, 
that  "  then  was  cut  the  aspiring  comb  of  prelatical 
pride,  —  then  was  undermined  the  pompous  fabrick  of 
hierarchical  usurpation  ;  —  then  was  pricked  the  puffed 
bladder  of  uninterrupted  succession  ;  while  the  eye  of 
liberty  sparkled  with  joy,  and  the  modest  face  of  primi- 
tive, simple,  unadulterated  Christianity  brightened  with 
the  conscious  smile  of  a  decent,  manly,  substantial 
triumph."  ^ 

It  was  supposed  by  the  King's  Chapel  congregation 
that  their  defection  would  lead  to  other  similar  deser- 
tions from  the  Episcopal  Church,  as  Mr.  Charles  Miller 
informed  Dr.  White  when  he  said  that  "  there  is  also 
reason  to  apprehend  that  other  congregations,  besides 

*  Greenwood,  History  of  King^s  Chapel,  p.  195. 


CHANGES   IN  THE   PRAYER-BOOK.  259 

that  of  which  I  am  a  member,  will,  should  they  become 
Unitarians  in  doctrine,  separate  themselves  from  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  form  themselves  into  independ- 
ent societies."  ^  Nothing  of  this  sort  occurred ;  and 
King's  Chapel  is  the  only  instance  of  an  Episcopal 
Chiu'ch  bodily  transferring  itself  to  Unitarianism.  The 
other  churches  in  Massachusetts  made  such  alterations 
in  the  liturgy  as  their  convention  permitted  ;  and  though 
the  "Proposed  Book,"  the  work  printed  and  edited  by 
the  labor  of  Dr.  White  and  Dr.  Smith,  of  Maryland, 
had  been  sent  to  Boston,  —  a  box  of  them,  —  it  neither 
had  a  ready  sale  nor  was  adopted  by  the  congregations. 
The  Massachusetts  Convention  of  July  20,  1786,  did 
not  adopt  the  alteration  in  the  "  Proposed  Book,"  but 
the  general  sentiment  was  "  to  leave  it  optional  with  the 
several  churches  to  adopt  what  they  hke  best,  or  even 
to  continue  the  use  of  the  old  Liturgy  (the  State  prayers 
excepted)  until  we  become  complete  in  our  officers." 
At  Trinity  Chiu'ch,  Boston,  the  Psalms  were  printed  by 
themselves  and  used  as  altered  ;  as  Parker  said,  "  We 
cannot  expect  to  be  united  in  one  common  Liturgy 
till  the  several  States  shall  have  obtained  Bishops  and 
they  have  agreed  upon  one  that  shall  be  calculated  for 
general  use  and  ratified  by  their  authority."  ^ 

The  Massachusetts  churches  were  wise  enough  to 
wait  for  a  regular  General  Convention  before  they  were 
ready  to  accept  the  final  American  Book  of  Common 
Prayer.  In  the  mean  time,  they  exercised  their  own 
judgment  and  continued  their  religious  services  with 
remarkable  uniformity. 

1  Wilson,  Memoir  of  Bishop  White,  p.  335. 
^  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  325. 


CHAPTER  X. 

ELECTION    OF   BASS    TO    THE    EPISCOPATE. 

Dr.  Samuel  Seabury,  having  obtained  his  conse- 
cration to  the  Episcopate  through  the  Scotch  hne  of 
succession,  was  enthusiastically  received  by  the  diocese 
of  Connecticut.  His  reception  in  other  quarters,  how- 
ever, was  not  so  marked.  Dr.  Provoost,  of  New  York, 
openly  denied  the  validity  of  his  consecration,  and 
further  opposed  him  because  of  his  loyahst  attitude 
during  the  Revolution.  The  churches  further  south 
objected  to  any  recognition  of  his  authority,  for  they 
were  making  every  effort  to  secure  the  Episcopate  from 
England ;  and  instead  of  rejoicing  in  the  fact  that  at 
last  an  American  bishop  had  been  secured,  resolutions 
were  offered  in  the  General  Convention  of  1786,  "  that 
this  Convention  will  resolve  to  do  no  act  that  shall 
imply  the  validity  of  ordinations  made  by  Dr.  Seabury." 
Fortunately  the  resolutions  were  not  adopted,  but  they 
indicated  a  decided  feeling  among  the  members  of  the 
convention  of  antagonism  to  the  bishop.  The  more 
conservative  men  were  not  so  outspoken,  but  they  were 
unwilling  to  make  any  official  overtures  to  the  new 
bishop.  Dr.  White,  however,  in  his  letters,  addressed 
Bishop  Seabury  as  "  Rt.  Rev'd  Father  in  God." 

This  feeling  of  opposition  was  not  allayed  by  the 
attitude  of  Bishop  Seabury  toward  the  churches  in  the 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        261 

other  States.  He,  first  of  all,  objected  to  the  fifth 
fundamental  principle  adopted  in  New  York  in  1784, 
providing  that  "  a  Bishop  shall  be  considered  a  member 
of  the  Convention  ex  officio."  Seabury  interpreted  this 
to  mean  that  a  bishop  was  excluded  from  presiding  at 
the  convention  ;  but,  as  Dr.  White  remarked,  there  was 
nothing  in  the  principle  against  having  a  bishop  as  a 
presiding  officer :  it  was  simply  silent  on  this  point. 
The  opposition  on  the  part  of  Seabury  to  the  granting 
of  power  to  the  laity  —  which  power  the  laymen  of 
Connecticut  refused  to  accept,  for,  when  it  was  offered 
to  them,  "  they  dechned  every  interference  in  church 
government  or  in  reformation  of  liturgies  "  ^  —  tended 
to  alienate  those  who  had  made  it  a  matter  of  deep 
conviction  that  all  members  of  the  church  should  be 
represented  in  its  dehberations.  Another  reason  for 
the  widening  of  the  breach  was  the  alterations  that  had 
been  made  in  the  liturgy.  Seabury  objected  to  "  the 
mutilating  the  Psalms ;  "  "  discarding  the  word  absolu- 
tion ; "  excluding  the  Athanasian  Creed ;  leaving  out 
"  the  descent  into  Hell "  from  the  Apostles'  Creed  ;  the 
omission  of  the  sign  of  the  cross  in  baptism,  and  other 
changes  that  had  been  incorporated  into  the  "  Proposed 
Book."  These  objections  marked  with  emphasis  the 
churchmanship  of  Bishop  Seabury  and  his  diocese. 

In  Massachusetts  there  was  never  any  doubt  concern- 
ing the  validity  of  Bishop  Seabury's  consecration,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  it  was  a  cause  of  regret  to  Bass  and 
Parker  that  the  question  should  ever  have  been  raised. 
Bass  was  indignant,  and  wrote  very  severely  of  the 

1  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  385. 


262  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

opponents  of  Seabury.  "  I  have  always  been  of  the 
opinion,"  he  said,  "  that  we  should  never  coalesce  with 
these  gentry,  and  that  it  was  much  more  natural  for  us 
to  endeavour  to  come  to  a  uniformity  in  these  four 
Northern  States.  Dr.  White  appears  to  be  desirous  of  a 
member  from  hence  at  their  next  convention.  I  could 
never  learn  that  in  any  of  their  meetings  and  debates 
they  have  ever  taken  the  least  notice  of  Bishop  Sea- 
bury,  which  I  look  upon  as  a  great  neglect,  if  not 
even  a  disrespect  to  and  contempt  of  the  Episcopal 
order.  They  have  indeed  resolved  to  endeavour  to  obtain 
an  Episcopate  among  themselves,  but  it  is,  in  my 
humble  opinion,  unpardonable,  in  the  mean  time,  not  to 
place  the  Bishop,  who  is  upon  the  spot,  at  the  head  of 
their  Convention.  Truly  very  un episcopal  conduct !  "  ^ 
At  another  time  Bass  wrote  to  Parker,  "I  have  pe- 
rused your  enclosed  papers,  and  find  that  our  Southern 
brethren  are  like  to  obtain  consecration  for  their  Bishops 
elect ;  and  also,  by  a  motion  respecting  Dr.  Seabury, 
that  they  are  nearly  ripe  for  making  a  schism  in  the 
American  church.  Wiseacres !  What  a  ridiculous 
figure  must  they  make  in  the  eyes  of  every  sectary 
or  anti-Episcopalian  !  In  the  name  of  wonder,  what 
objection  can  be  raised  against  the  validity  of  Dr.  S's 
ordinations,  that  may  not  as  well  be  made  against  those 
of  the  English  Bishops  ?  "  ^  Parker  was  equally  out- 
spoken in  a  letter  to  Dr.  White :  "  I  am  very  sorry  to 
see  with  what  coolness  and  Indifference  some  of  the 
Gentlemen  in  your  Convention  speak  of  Bishop  Seabury, 
because  I  foresee  that  this  Conduct  must  create  a  Schism 

^  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  309.  '^  Ibid.,  p.  325. 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        263 

in  the  Cliurcli.  However  Eligible  it  may  appear  to 
them  to  obtain  Succession  from  the  English  Church,  I 
think  there  can  be  no  real  objection  to  Dr.  Seabury's 
Consecration  or  to  the  validity  of  the  orders  received 
from  him ;  and  I  am  firmly  of  opinion  that  we  should 
never  have  obtained  the  Succession  from  England,  had 
he  or  some  other  not  have  obtained  it  first  from  Scot- 
land." ^ 

Though  the  churchmen  in  Massachusetts  took  this 
just  view  of  Bishop  Seabury's  consecration  and  wel- 
comed him  into  their  State,  they  maintained  their  inde- 
pendent attitude,  which  was  decidedly  strengthened  by 
an  unfortunate  act  of  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut.  He 
had  been  invited  to  preach  the  annual  sermon  before 
the  Episcopal  Charitable  Society  of  Boston  ;  this  he 
dechned  because  of  the  changes  in  the  liturgy  that  had 
been  made  by  the  Massachusetts  conventions.  His 
refusal  was  regretted,  but  the  churches  in  Massachu- 
setts had  no  idea  of  abandoning  their  position  to 
accommodate  him.  The  prevailing  sentiment  was  ex- 
pressed by  Parker  in  a  very  frank  letter  to  the  Bishop 
of  Connecticut :  "  I  am  very  sorry  to  find  that  you 
have  any  reluctance  to  pass  the  festival  of  Easter  at 
Boston,  on  account  of  any  irregular  or  unprecedented 
conduct  in  our  Church.  .  .  .  The  gentlemen  of  the 
Charitable  Society  would  think  themselves  honoured 
with  your  company  at  their  annual  festival ;  but  I  can- 
not feel  myself  at  liberty  to  promise  a  recession  from 
our  present  mode  of  carrying  on  the  Service,  as  I  appre- 
hend it  would  be  attended  with  great  convulsions  in 
our  Church."  ^ 

1  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  325.  '  Ihid.,  p.  364. 


264  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

The  whole  period  between  the  so-called  General  Con- 
vention of  1786  and  the  first  actual  General  Convention 
of  1789  was  occupied  by  a  triangular  discussion  and 
correspondence  between  the  southern  churches,  those 
in  Connecticut,  and  those  in  Massachusetts.  Various 
suggestions  and  plans  were  considered  for  bringing 
about  harmony,  and  uniting  the  different  dioceses  in 
one  organic  body.  Massachusetts  without  any  bishop 
of  its  own,  and  yet  having  annual  conventions,  was 
looked  upon  as  an  important  factor  in  any  conclusion 
that  was  to  be  reached.  At  one  time  when  the  rela- 
tions were  strained  between  the  southern  churches  and 
Connecticut,  the  suggestion  was  made  by  the  latter 
that  Massachusetts  secure  a  bishop  from  the  Scotch 
line  of  descent,  and  it  is  very  probable  that  Parker  was 
the  person  whom  it  was  intended  should  secure  the 
consecration.  At  another  time  the  proposition  was 
made  by  Bishop  White  that  the  church  in  Massachu- 
setts should  send  some  one  to  England  to  be  conse- 
crated,^ thus  securing  to  America  three  bishops  of  the 
English  line ;  and  they  could  then  consecrate  other 
bishops  without  the  assistance  of  Bishop  Seabury. 
Neither  of  these  propositions  commended  itself  to  the 
churchmen  of  Massachusetts.  The  clergy  were  divided 
in  the  matter,  some  desiring  to  adhere  to  Connecticut, 
others  to  join  with  the  southern  churches,  but  all  most 
anxious  for  the  union  of  all  the  churches. 

The  opinion  expressed  by  Parker  indicating  his  de- 
sire for  the  union  of  the  whole  church  became  a  watch- 
word in  Massachusetts.     "  The  clergy  of  this  State," 

I  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  378. 


ELECTION   OF  BASS   TO   THE   EPISCOPATE.        265 

he  said,  "are  very  desirous  of  seeing  an  union  of  the 
whole  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica take  place ;  and  it  will  remain  with  our  brethren  at 
the  Southward  to  say,  whether  this  shall  be  the  case  or 
not ;  whether  we  shall  be  an  united  or  divided  Church. 
Some  little  difference  in  government  may  exist  in  dif- 
ferent States,  without  affecting  the  essential  points  of 
union  and  communion."  ^  It  was  also  seen  how  impor- 
tant it  was  to  bring  the  question  of  "  union  "  to  a  focus 
during  the  important  convention  to  be  held  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1789.  The  suggestion  was  made  that  the 
"  union  "  could  be  effected  if  the  two  bishops  of  the 
English  line  would  but  unite  with  Bishop  Seabury  in 
consecrating  a  fourth  bishop,  —  thus  joining  the  two 
streams  of  descent.  This  had  been  spoken  of  in  Massa- 
chusetts as  early  as  1787,  but  then  as  a  vague  possi- 
bility ;  however,  as  the  Philadelphia  convention  drew 
nearer,  the  clergy  of  Massachusetts  determined  to  act 
vigorously  and  put  before  it  a  definite  proposition  upon 
which  it  would  be  necessary  to  take  deliberate  action. 
The  plan  was  to  elect  a  bishop  of  Massachusetts,  and 
then  to  ask  the  General  Convention  to  permit  his  con- 
secration by  the  three  bishops  resident  in  America,  — 
Bishops  White,  Provoost,  and  Seabury. 

Accordingly,  the  clergy  of  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire  met  in  Salem  on  June  4,  1789,  and  after  a 
careful  consideration  of  the  whole  situation  proceeded 
to  elect  their  bishop.  The  choice  very  naturally  fell 
upon  the  oldest  and  most  respected  of  the  clergy, 
Edward  Bass,  who  had  spent  his  long  ministry  in  the 

1  White,  Memoirs,  p.  337. 


266  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

diocese  and  was  widely  known  for  his  piety  and  Chris- 
tian manliness.  The  official  information  of  the  election 
was  conveyed  to  the  General  Convention  in  the  follow- 
ing act :  — 

AN   ACT   OF   THE   CLERGY   OF   MASSACHUSETTS   AND   NEW 
HAMPSHIRE. 

The  good  Providence  of  Almighty  God,  the  fountain 
of  all  goodness,  having  lately  blessed  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  by 
supplying  it  with  a  complete  and  entire  Ministry,  and 
affording  to  many  of  her  communion  the  benefit  of  the 
labours,  advice,  and  government  of  the  successors  of 
the  Apostles ; 

We,  Presbyters  of  said  Church  in  the  States  of  Mas- 
sachusetts and  New  Hampshire,  deeply  impressed  with 
the  most  lively  gratitude  to  the  Supreme  Governor  of 
the  universe,  for  his  goodness  in  this  respect,  and  with 
the  most  ardent  love  for  his  Church,  and  concern  for 
the  interest  of  her  Sons,  that  they  may  enjoy  all  the 
means  that  Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of 
Souls,  has  instituted  for  leading  his  followers  into  the 
ways  of  truth  and  holiness,  and  preserving  his  Church 
in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  and  the  bond  of  j)eace  ;  to 
the  end  that  the  people  committed  to  our  respective 
charges  may  enjoy  the  benefit  and  advantage  of  those 
offices,  the  administration  of  which  belongs  to  the 
highest  Order  of  the  Ministry,  and  to  encourage  and 
promote,  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  a  union  of  the  whole 
Episcopal  Church  in  these  States,  and  to  perfect  and 
compact  this  mystical  body  of  Christ,  do  hereby  nomi- 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE   EPISCOPATE.        2G7 

nate,  elect,  and  appoint  the  Rev.  Edward  Bass,  a 
Presbyter  of  said  Church,  and  Rector  of  St.  Paul's  in 
Newburyport,  to  be  our  Bishop  ;  and  we  do  promise 
and  engage  to  receive  him  as  such,  w^hen  canonically 
consecrated,  and  invested  with  the  Apostolic  office  and 
powers,  by  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishops  hereafter 
named,  and  to  render  him  all  that  canonical  obedience 
and  submission,  which,  by  the  laws  of  Christ  and  the  con- 
stitution of  our  Church,  is  due  to  so  important  an  office. 
And  we  now  address  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bishops 
in  the  States  of  Connecticut,  New  York,  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, praying  their  united  assistance  in  consecrating 
our  said  brother,  and  canonically  investing  hun  with  the 
apostolic  office  and  powers.^  This  request  we  are  in- 
duced to  make,  from  a  long  acquaintance  with  him,  and 
from  a  perfect  knowledge  of  his  being  possessed  of  that 
love  to  God  and  benevolence  to  men,  that  piety,  learn- 
ing, and  good  morals,  that  prudence  and  discretion, 
requisite  to  so  exalted  a  station,  as  well  as  that  personal 
respect  and  attachment  of  the  communion  at  large  in 
these  States,  which  will  make  him  a  valuable  acquisition 
to  the  Order,  and,  we  trust,  a  rich  blessing  to  the  Church. 

Done  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbyters,  whose  names 
are  under  written,  held  at  Salem,  in  the  County  of  Essex, 

^  The  first  suggestion  of  the  possibility  of  securing  the  united  action  of 
the  three  bishops  appears  to  have  been  made  by  Bishop  White  himself. 
He  wrote  in  his  Memoirs,  page  167,  that  "  he  had  some  time  before  writ- 
ten to  Dr.  Parker,  of  Boston,  that  he  considered  the  clergy  of  Masssachu- 
setts  as  peculiarly  situated,  ...  so  that  they  had  it  in  their  power  to  act 
the  part  of  mediators,  in  bringing  the  clergy  of  Connecticut  and  those  of 
the  other  States  together." 


268  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

and  Commonwealth  of  Massacliusetts,  the  fourth  day  of 
June,  Anno  Salutis,  1789. 

Samuel  Parker, 

Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Boston. 

T.  Fitch  Oliver, 

Rector  of  St.  Michael" s  Church,  Marhlehead. 

John  Cousens  Ogden, 
Rector  of  Queen's  Chapel,  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire. 

William  Montague, 

Minister  of  Christ  Church,  Boston. 

TiLLOTSON    BrUNSON, 

Assistant  Minister  of  Christ  Church,  Boston."^ 

It  will  be  noticed  that  no  laymen  participated  in  the 
election  of  Bass.  Why  they  were  excluded  it  is  diffi- 
cult now  to  understand,  since  they  had  been  present 
at  the  previous  conventions.  Doubtless,  some  of  the 
clergy  were  in  agreement  with  Connecticut  on  the  right 
of  the  laity  to  have  a  voice  in  the  election  of  a  bishop, 
and  others  feared  that,  if  the  laymen  were  in  attend- 
ance, Bishop  Seabury  might  not  be  willing  to  assist  in 
the  consecration.  The  exclusion  of  the  laymen  was  a 
high-handed  act,  further  emphasized  by  the  election  of 
a  clerical  delegate  only,  Samuel  Parker,  to  the  General 
Convention.  It  was  this  secrecy  and  denial  of  power  to 
the  laymen  that  stirred  up  the  laity  of  Massachusetts 
to  open  rebellion  in  order  to  gain  their  rights.  They 
determined  to  be  recognized  ;  and  went  to  such  lengths 
even  as  to  call  a  meeting  of  laymen  in  convention  to 
choose  a  delegate  to  the  General  Convention  of  1789. 

1  White,  Memoirs,  p.  333. 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        269 

The  fight  that  they  made  is  a  striking  chapter  of 
church  history,  and  though  their  immediate  point  was 
not  gained,  their  efforts  were  abundantly  rewarded  in 
the  permanent  rights  secured  by  the  laymen  of  Massa- 
chusetts. 

The  laymen  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport,  were 
the  leaders  in  the  movement  for  calling  a  "laymen's 
convention."  Though  they  had  great  respect  for  their 
rector,  who  had  been  chosen  bishop,  they  were  unwill- 
ing to  submit  to  the  election,  because  laymen  had  had 
no  voice  in  it,  and  were  not  to  be  represented  in  the 
convention  that  was  to  consider  it.  The  following 
documents  exhibit  the  earnestness  of  the  laymen  in  the 
contention  for  their  rights ;  they  are  preserved  in  the 
records  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport :  — 

NOTIFICATION. 

The  Vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  are  requested  to 
meet  in  the  Church  immediately  after  Evening  Service 
to-morrow,  to  consider  of  the  Propriety  of  procuring 
one  or  more  Lay  Deputies  to  be  appointed  from  the  Epis- 
copal Churches  in  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire, 
to  represent  them  at  the  ensuing  Convention  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States  of 
America  to  be  holden  at  Philadelphia  on  the  29th  Day 
of  September  next  —  and  —  To  consult  and  agree  upon 
Measures  to  effect  the  same. 

Samuel  Cutter  )     Church 
Dudley  Atkins  f  Wardens. 

Newbury  Port,  August  29,  1789. 


270  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

KECORD   OF  MEETING. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  held  in  said  Church  on  Sunday  the  30th 
Day  of  August  1789  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  Notifi- 
cation — 

Present,  the  Wardens  and 
Abraham  Gallishan         Abraham  Jackson 
William  Morland  Edward  Rand 

John  Jenkins  John  Fletcher 

David  Cutter  Tristram  Coffin 

Wyatt  St.  Barbe  Lewis  Jenkins 

Vestrymen. 

The  following  Draught  of  a  Letter  proposed  to  be 
sent  to  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  Massachusetts  and 
New-Hampshire  was  read  and  considered  —  viz  :  — 

To    the  Wardens   and    Vestry   of  Church 

IN . 

Gentlemen  —  We  have  been  favoured  with  the  Jour- 
nal of  a  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  States  of  New- York,  New- Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia  and  South-Carolina 
holden  at  Philadelphia  from  the  28th  of  July  last  to 
the  8th  of  the  current  month.  We  cannot  but  lament 
that  the  Churches  in  these  Eastern  States  had  no  repre- 
sentation therein,  especially  as  it  appears  that  an  affair 
of  the  highest  consequence  to  us  came  under  their 
Consideration :  We  mean  the  Election  of  a  Bishop  to 
be  set  over  the  Church  in  this  and  our  Sister  State  of 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        271 

New-Hampshire.  The  Manner  in  which  that  Election 
was  conducted,  and  the  profound  Silence  and  even 
Secrecy  which  has  been  maintained  by  the  Reverend 
actors  in  it,  have  given  us  great  Concern.  Disposed  as 
we  are  to  give  every  Proof  in  our  Power  of  our  Vener- 
ation and  Esteem  for  our  Spiritual  Teachers,  we  cannot 
refrain  from  expressing  our  Opinion  that  in  a  Matter  of 
that  hio'h  Moment  it  would  have  been  but  a  Piece  of 
Condescension,  becoming  Ministers  of  Christ,  to  have 
admitted  their  Brethren  of  the  Laity  to  a  Participation 
of  their  Counsels.  Neither  can  we  divest  ourselves  of 
an  Apprehension  that  a  System  of  Ecclesiastical  Gov- 
ernment is  contemplated  in  these  States  not  perfectly 
consistent  with  that  Freedom  with  which  it  hath 
pleased  a  merciful  God  to  bless  us,  and  which  has  been 
so  assiduously  supported  and  cultivated  by  our  Sister- 
Churches  in  the  Southern  Governments. 

Impressed  with  these  Sentiments  we  have  assembled 
and  deliberated  on  these  Subjects  ;  and,  in  the  Result, 
have  determined  (though  young  and  few  in  Number) 
to  propose  to  the  several  Episcopal  Churches  in  these 
two  Eastern  States  to  elect  one  or  more  Lay  Deputies 
to  attend  in  our  Behalf  at  the  Adjournment  of  the  fore- 
mentioned  Convention  to  be  holden  at  Philadelphia  on 
the  29th  Day  of  Sej)tember  next.  This  Measure  has 
appeared  to  us  well-calculated,  if  not  even  necessary  to 
preserve  that  Union  of  our  Church  in  these  United 
States,  which  is  so  earnestly  to  be  desired.  We  are 
invited  to  it  by  the  Convention.  The  Business  to  be 
then  transacted  is  of  the  first  Consequence  to  us. 
Canons  are  to  be  established ;  The  Book  of  Common 


272  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Prayer  is  to  be  revised  and  altered  ;  and  other  interest- 
ing Concerns  to  come  before  that  Body.  We  would 
not  for  our  own  Part  willingly  lose  our  Voice  on  the 
Occasion ;  and  we  fear  it  will  be  thought  disrespectful 
to  neglect  it. 

Should  our  Ideas  on  this  Subject  meet  yours,  we  beg 
leave  to  propose  that  a  Convention  of  Lay-Deputies 
from  the  several  Churches  in  these  States  assemble  at 
Salem  in  the  County  of  Essex  and  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  on  Wednesday  the  Sixteenth  Day  of 
September  next  before-noon,  to  elect  one  or  more  Lay 
Deputies  to  represent  the  said  Churches  at  the  Conven- 
tion to  be  holden  by  Adjournment  at  Philadelphia  on 
the  twenty-ninth  Day  of  September  next ;  to  give  the 
said  Deputy  or  Deputies  such  advice  and  Instructions 
as  may  be  thought  necessary  or  proper,  and  to  consider 
of  and  recommend  any  Measures  they  may  think  pro- 
motive of  the  Welfare  and  Improvement  of  these 
Churches. 

If  this  Letter  should  by  any  Means  be  delayed  on  its 
Passage  ;  so  that  Time  be  wanting,  or  should  any  other 
Cause  prevent  your  Society  from  adopting  our  Proposal, 
we  beg  Leave  to  mention  that  there  are  now  in  New- 
York  three  respectable  Members  and  we  believe  sincere 
Friends  of  our  Churches,  viz.  The  Hon.  Mr.  Dalton, 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Gerry  and  the  Hon.  Mr.  Livermore. 
We  cannot  doubt  that  any  of  these  Gentlemen  would 
readily  undertake  the  charge  of  representing  us  in 
Convention ;  and  we  hope  it  will  not  be  deemed  too 
assuming  in  us  to  recommend  that  these  Societies,  who 
shall  not  join  in  the  proposed  Convention  at  Salem, 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        273 

furnish  one  or  more  of  those  Gentlemen  with  the 
Powers  to  represent  them  in  the  Convention  at  Phil- 
adelphia. 

We  beg  the  Favour  of  you  to  inform  us  of  your 
Receipt  of  this  with  an  Account  of  your  Proceed- 
ings ;  and  shall  at  all  Times  gladly  receive  from  you 
any  Communications  tending  to  the  Benefit  of  the 
Church. 

We  are,  Gentlemen,  your  respectful  Friends  and 
Brethren  — 

Signed  by  the  unanimous  Desire  of  the  Vestry  of  S* 
Paul's  Church,  Newbury  Port. 

Samuel  Cutter  )    Wardens  of 
Dudley  Atkins  j  said  C/mi^ch. 

Newbury  Port,  Aug*  30, 1789. 

Whereupon,  voted  unanimously, 
That  the  Wardens  be  and  they  hereby  are  desired  to 
send  copies  of  the  same  signed  by  them  in  behalf  of 
the  Vestry  to  each  of  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  Mas- 
sachusetts and  New-Hampshire. 

Voted,  That  the  Wardens  be  and  they  hereby  are 
requested  to  call  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  and 
others  usually  attending  Public  Worship  in  this  Church 
on  some  convenient  Day  previous  to  the  16th  Day  of 
September  next,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  one  or 
more  Deputies  to  attend  at  the  Convention  proposed  to 
be  held  at  Salem  on  the  said  Day  — 
Attest 

Sam?  Cutter      )    Church- 
DuDLEY  Atkins  j   Wardens. 


Massachu- 
setts 


274  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

[A  Copy  of  the  foregoing  Letter  was  sent  to  the  fol- 
lowing; Churches. 

Queen's  Chappie,  Portsmouth!        New 
Church  at  New  Holderness      ]  Hampshire. 
St.  Peter's  Church,  Salem 
St.  Michael's  Chappie,  Marblehead 
Christ's  Church,  Boston 
Trinity  Church,  Boston 
United  Churches,  Scituate 

Marshfield,  Braintree  and  Bridge- 
water 
Church  at  Portland] 

The  replies  to  the  foregoing  circular  letter,  received 
from  the  various  churches  to  which  it  had  been  sent, 
contain  important  material  bearing  upon  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Massachusetts  :  — 

TO  THE   WAEDENS   OF    ST.   PAUL'S   CHURCH. 

Portsmouth,  Sep!  2, 1789. 
Gentlemen,  —  We  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  Letter  of  August  31".*  by  the  hand  of  Oliver 
Whipple  Esq!  In  Consequence  we,  with  the  Vestry  of 
Queen's  Chappie  met  together  on  the  Occasion,  and 
consulted  upon  the  Subject  you  propose,  and  are  author- 
ized by  a  Unanimous  voice  to  say  :  That  we  thank  you 
for  your  friendly  communication  and  most  sincerely 
wish  to  see  a  Compleat  Union  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  America.  But  as  the  General  Convoca- 
tion (so  called)  have  twice  met  in  Philadelphia,  and 
never  honoured  us  with  a  copy  of  their  Proceedings,  or 


ELECTION   OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        275 

in  any  form  whatever  given  us  any  Invitation  to  attend 
it,  or  ever  afforded  us  the  smallest  information  of  their 
doings ;  and  the  time  of  their  meeting  being  too  soon 
for  us  to  gain  any  wished  instruction  on  so  important  a 
Matter,  and  (as  far  as  conjecture  alone  can  help  us) 
the  Business  of  the  General  Convention,  being  drawn 
to  a  close,  so  far  as  places  us  at  too  late  a  Day,  to 
expect  that  our  Agent  (if  we  should  think  proper  to 
chuse  one)  could  accomplish  anything  that  might  on 
our  part  appear  Necessary  for  us  or  the  body  of  the 
Church ;  Upon  these  Considerations  we  cannot  Join  in 
the  Measure  of  electing  a  Person  to  Meet  the  Repre- 
sentatives, that  may  collect  from  the  Several  Churches 
in  your  State  &  this,  at  Salem  on  the  16th  cur*,  or 
appoint  either  of  the  Gentlemen,  you  mention,  to  repre- 
sent us  in  the  Convention  at  Philadelphia,  which  is  to 
Set  the  29**"  Ins!  While  we  rejoice  in  the  liberality  of 
Sentiment  that  pervades  this  Continent,  between  various 
religious  Denominations,  while  we  experience  the  ben- 
efit of  our  wise  &  general  tolleration,  &  from  thence 
see  the  Church  gaining  her  proper  Station  &  the  benefits 
therefrom,  increasing ;  We  shall  ever  gladly  Join  in 
every  prudent  Just  &  necessary  measure  that  shall  be 
devised  to  make  her  happy  &  respected.     We  are  &c. 

Geo.  Turner,  Warde?i 

In  behalf  and  by  order 

of  the  Vestry, 

Geo.  Jaffrey. 


276  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

Salem,  6th  Sept.  1789. 

Gentlemen,  —  We  are  indebted  to  you  for  all  the 
information  we  have,  respecting  the  Convention  which 
has  been  lately  held  at  Philadelphia :  how  that  Body,  as 
you  observe,  "  could  take  under  their  consideration  the 
election  of  a  Bishop  to  be  set  over  this,  &  our  Sister 
State  of  Newhampshire,  when  they  were  not  repre- 
sented in  the  Convention,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  deter- 
mine," and  shall  only  observe  for  the  present,  that  we 
suppose  none  of  their  doings  can  or  ought  to  bind  us, 
nor  any  other  Society,  but  which  shall  approve  them. 
You  say  "  the  Manner  in  which  that  Election  was  con- 
ducted &  the  profound  silence  &  even  Secrecy  which 
has  been  maintained  by  the  Rev.  actors  in  it,  have 
given  you  great  concern,"  but  as  neither  our  Minister, 
nor  we  ourselves,  do  yet  know  when,  where,  nor  by 
whom  that  Election  was  made,  we  have  only  to  observe, 
that  we  do  not  suppose  that  Election  of  even  the  least 
consequence  to  us,  however,  to  shew  our  disapprobation 
of  all  such  unchristian  &  surreptitious  measures,  in 
these  our  Spiritual  Guides  &  teachers,  &  "  from  whom 
we  had  a  right  to  expect  better  things,"  we  do  hereby 
protest  against  the  equity  of  it.  You  intimate  your 
fear  "  that  a  System  of  Ecclesiastical  Government  is 
contemplated  in  these  States,  not  perfectly  consistent 
with  the  freedom  assiduously  supported  &  maintained 
in  the  Southern  Governments."  We  are  sorry  to 
hear  a  Suggestion  of  this  kind  &  hope  it  is  not  a  Just 
apprehension,  but  even  should  it  be  well  founded,  we 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        277 

apprehend  no  great  danger  from  the  Authors  of  it. 
You  say  "  that  we  are  invited  to  the  Convention  ad- 
journed to  the  29*^  inst ;  when  Canons  are  to  be 
estabhshed.  The  Book  of  Common  prayer  revised  & 
altered."  These  to  be  sure  are  transactions  of  conse- 
quence to  the  Episcopal  Churches  throughout  the 
United  States,  &  we  pray  God  to  give  wisdom  and 
discretion  to  those  who  shall  engage  in  this  very  im- 
portant work.  If  their  doings  meet  our  approbations, 
no  doubt  we  shall  adopt  them,  —  Upon  the  whole,  we 
acknowledge  with  all  gratitude,  the  great  concern  you 
have  shewn  for  the  good  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
these  States ;  for  the  liberties  of  the  Laity ;  &  for  the 
respect  shewn  to  us  in  your  polite  &  friendly  communi- 
cation. But  as  we  see  no  present  necessity  for  a  Bishop 
for  the  Government  of  the  few,  scattered  &  in  general 
very  poor,  yet  orderly  Churches  in  these  Eastern  States ; 
and  as  we  enjoy  peace  &  harmony  within  ourselves, 
therefore  we  have  voted  unanimously,  not  to  attend  the 
Convention  of  Lay  delegates,  proposed  to  be  holden  at 
Salem  on  the  16th  of  this  month.  We  are.  Gentlemen, 
Your  respectful 

Friends  &  Brethren 
Signed  By  the  Desire  of  the  Wardens  &  Vestry  of  St. 
Peter's  Church,  Salem. 

Joseph  Bowditch,  Cleric. 

TO   THE  SAME. 

Boston,  Sep'  9'"  1789. 
Gentlemen,  —  We  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  of  the  31**  August  1789,  directed  to  the  Wardens 


278  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

&  Vestry  of  Christ's  Church  Boston.  Setting  forth  "  the 
apprehensions  you  have  that  a  System  of  Ecclesiastical 
Government  is  contemplated  in  these  States,  not  per- 
fectly consistent  with  that  freedom  with  which  it  hath 
pleased  a  merciful  God  in  his  providence  to  bless  us." 
These  apprehensions  or  Suggestions,  we  suppose  is 
from  the  Convention  held  at  Salem  on  the  4:th  Day  of 
June  last,  by  the  Revd  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  this, 
and  the  State  of  New-Hampshire,  if  there  was  any 
foundation  for  such  an  apprehension,  (we  commend 
your  Zeal)  and  should  readily  concur  with  you  in  the 
same.  But  as  nothing  of  this  nature  appears  to  us,  we 
would  hope  and  believe  that  those  Gentlemen  by  whose 
direction  said  letter  was  written  have  been  misinformed 
of  the  Motives  and  Design  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Rev?  the  Episcopal  Clergy  of  this  &  the  State  of  New- 
Hampshire,  as  aforesaid. 

In  our  opinion  their  proceedings  was  Intirely  to  bring 
about  a  Union  of  the  Several  Bishops  &  Episcopal 
Churches  in  the  whole  United  States,  which  object  we 
are  Informed,  is  now  in  a  fair  way  &  an  agreeable 
prospect  of  being  accommodated  so  that  an  Union  of 
the  whole  Episcopal  Churches  in  the  United  States,  wiU 
be  accompUshed,  for  which  blessing  every  Episcopalian 
must  rejoice  :  —  According  to  your  desire  we  now 
acquaint  you  with  our  proceedings  on  your  Letter, 
which  by  the  Votes  of  the  Church  is  as  follows  — 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Wardens  &  Vestry  of  Christs 
Church  in  Boston,  holden  at  the  Vestry  room  Sep'T,  1789. 

A  Letter  from  the  Wardens  &  Vestry  of  S*  Paul's 
Church,    Newbury    Port,  directed  to  the  Wardens  & 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        279 

Vestry  of  Christ's  Church  Boston,  was  presented  by 
the  Wardens  &  read,  and  after  due  Consideration  had 
thereon  ;  do  not  think  it  necessary  or  expedient,  to 
send  any  Delegate  to  the  Convention  proposed  to  be 
held  at  Salem,  on  the  16th  Ins*,  as  there  is  already  a 
Clerical  Delegate  chosen  and  appointed  to  represent  the 
Clergy  of  this  &  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  in  the 
adjourned  general  Convention  to  be  holden  at  the  City 
of  Philadelphia  on  the  29'^  Ins*  We  are  of  opinion, 
that  it  is  totally  unnecessary  for  us  to  Nominate  or 
request  any  Lay  Delegate  to  represent  us  in  said  gen- 
eral Convention  at  Philadelphia  aforesaid,  but  are  willing 
to  trust  the  conserns  of  this  Church  with  the  Clerical 
Delegate  already  appointed.  Therefore  Voted  Unani- 
mously —  That  a  Delegate  be  appointed  to  represent  us 
in  the  General  Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Churches 
to  be  holden  at  Philadelphia  the  29*'*  Ins*  Voted, 
unanimously  —  That  the  Rev*^  Samuel  Parker  D.  D.  be 
desired,  as  a  Delegate,  to  represent  us  in  said  Convention. 

We  have  now  given  you  our  Determination  on  your 
Letter  and  although  we  dissent  from  you  as  to  the 
Convention  we  hope  that  no  uneasiness  will  arise  there- 
from, for  as  we  are  Brethren  of  the  same  Church,  let 
us  live  in  Love  and  Unity,  then  may  we  believe  &  hope 
that  the  God  of  Peace  &  Love  may  Direct  and  Guide 
us  in  the  way  of  our  Duty. 
We  are,  Gentlemen 

Your  respectful  Friends  &  Breth : 
Signed   by  the    Unanimous   Desire  of  the   Vestry  of 

Christs  Church  Boston 

Jambs  Sherman       |    Wardens  of 
Charles  Williams  i   said  Church. 


280  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

Boston,  Sep'  9*."  1789 
Gentlemen,  —  Your  Letter  of  the  31.  Ulto  addressed 
to  the  Wardens  &  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  was  laid 
before  them  on  the  5^^  Inst.  We  were  happy  to  find 
that  the  Interest  and  Welfare  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  these  States  were  so  warmly  espoused  by  such  a 
respectable  Body  as  the  Wardens  &  Vestry  of  St 
Paul's  Church  in  Newbury  Port ;  But  at  the  same  time 
we  cannot  but  express  our  apprehensions  that  the 
Wardens  &  Vestry  of  St  Paul's  Church,  were  either  not 
fully  inf ornied  of,  or  have  mistaken  the  views  &  designs 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Rev^  Clergy  of  this  and  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire  at  their  Meeting  held  at  Salem 
on  4th  June  last :  To  us  it  appears  that  "  the  profound 
Silence  &  even  Secrecy  which  has  been  maintained  "  in 
respect  to  the  transactions  of  that  meeting  was  neces- 
sary to  effect  the  design  they  had  in  view,  otherwise 
they  would  no  doubt  have  admitted  their  Lay  Brethren 
to  "  a  participation  of  their  Counsels."  Our  esteem 
for  our  Spiritual  Teachers  induce  us  to  think  thus 
favourably  of  their  Conduct.  And  as  it  appears  evi- 
dent by  their  act  that  one,  and  this  a  principal  end 
they  had  in  view,  was  to  encourage  and  promote  a 
Union  of  the  whole  Church  in  the  United  States,  in 
doctrine,  discipline  &  worship,  we  can  have  no  appre- 
hension that  "  a  System  of  Ecclesiastical  Government 
is  contemplated  in  these  States,  not  perfectly  consist- 
ent with  that  freedom  with  which  it  hath  pleased  a 
Merciful  God  to  bless  us,"  but  being  the  same,  it  must 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        281 

be  as  free  as  that  "  "svliich  has  been  so  assiduously 
supported  &  cultivated  by  our  Sister  Church  in  the 
Southern  Government."  A  Clerical  Delegate  being 
already  appointed  to  represent,  in  the  Adjourned  Con- 
vention, the  Clergy  of  this  State,  whose  Interests  are  so 
nearly  connected  with  that  of  the  Laity,  upon  whom 
they  depend  for  their  Support,  we  feel  perfectly  safe  in 
trusting  the  concerns  of  the  Church  with  them,  & 
therefore  are  of  opinion  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  give 
any  Gentleman  the  trouble  of  appearing  at  the  Ad- 
journed Convention  as  a  Lay  Delegate  on  our  behalf. 
Impressed  with  this  Sentiment  we  must  beg  you  Gent : 
to  excuse  our  not  complying  with  your  proposal,  but 
declining  to  send  any  Delegate  to  the  Convention  pro- 
posed to  be  holden  at  Salem  the  IG**"  Inst.  Such  a 
Step,  we  are  apprehensive,  would  only  tend  to  excite  a 
Jealousy  &  division  between  the  Clergy  and  Laity, 
which  we  wish  at  all  times  to  avoid,  but  more  especially 
at  the  present,  when  there  is  so  fair  a  prospect  of  a 
Compleat,  &  entire  Union  of  the  whole  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States.  We  thank  you  Gent : 
for  your  attention  to  the  Interests  of  the  Church  in 
General,  &  are  very  sorry  we  are  obliged  to  disagree  in 
Sentiment  upon  the  Subject  of  your  Letter. 
We  are  Gentlemen,  your 

respectful  friends  &  Brethren 

By  order  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  Boston 

Richard  Gkeek)   p,.„^^,„,. 
Henry  Smith      j 


282  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

TO   THE   SAME. 

New-Holderness,  Sep'  12'"  1789. 

Gentlemen,  —  We  have  been  honoured  with  the 
receipt  of  your's  of  the  SO*.**  of  August  last,  altho'  it 
came  to  hand  some  days  latter  than  perhaps  you  ex- 
pected :  and  Join  with  you  in  lamenting  that  the 
Churches  in  the  Eastern  States  were  not  represented  in 
the  late  Convention  at  Philadelphia  and  that  any  mat- 
ters of  Importance  relative  to  them  were  transacted 
without  &  think  the  alarm  which  you  have  taken  upon 
the  occasion  altogether  justifiable. 

We  doubt  not  your  veneration  for  your  Spiritual 
teachers,  and  we  are  sorry  to  say  that  their  inattention  to 
their  Brethren  of  the  Laity  in  matters  of  the  greatest 
Importance  savours  little  of  that  Condescention  &  meek- 
ness so  emphatically  inculcated  by  their  divine  master ; 
still  would  humbly  hope  that  they  have  not  in  contem- 
plation any  system  of  Ecclesiastical  government  subver- 
sive of  the  freedom  &  true  Interest  of  our  Church. 

We  are  pleased  with  the  result  of  your  deliberations 
and  Judge  that  the  sending  one  or  more  Lay-Deputies 
to  the  Convention  at  the  adjournment  is  a  measure  well 
calculated  to  promote  the  Union  of  our  Churches,  so 
ardently  to  be  wished  for ;  and  that  the  Invitation 
from  the  Convention  renders  the  measure  still  more 
eligible. 

Your  proposal  with  respect  to  the  Convention  at 
Salem  we  gladly  adopt ;  and  have  made  choice  of  John 
Porter  Esq^  as  our  representative ;  but  least  he  should 
not  arrive  in  season  to  Join  them,  we  have  authorized  & 


ELECTION  OF  BASS   TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        283 

impowered  those  respectable  Gentlemen  by  you  pointed 
out  to  us,  in  a  Joint  &  Seperate  Capacity,  to  represent 
us  in  the  Convention  at  Philadelphia  and  as  we  have  no 
reason  to  doubt  the  sincerity  o£  their  friendship  for  our 
churches,  have  the  confidence  that  one  or  other  of  them 
will  undertake  the  Charge. 

We  thank  you  for  your  attention  to  this  Infant 
Society  ;  for  your  vigilance  and  good  Intention  towards 
our  Churches  in  general ;  and  shall  ever  be  happy  to 
meet  you  in  any  measure  promotive  of  their  true  In- 
terests. 

We  are.  Gentlemen 

Your  respectful  friends  &  Brethren 

AndY  Smyth    ^   Wardens  of  the 
y  Church  in  JVew- 
Sam?  SheperdJ     Holderness. 

When  it  became  evident  to  the  wardens  and  vestry 
in  Newburyport  that  the  "  laymen's  convention  "  could 
not  be  held,  they  determined  to  elect  their  own  dele- 
gates and  send  them  to  Philadelphia  to  represent  their 
own  parish.  The  records  of  St.  Paul's  Church  con- 
tain evidence  of  their  further  deliberations  :  — 

NOTICE. 

The  Proprietors  and  others  usually  worshipping  at 
S*  Paul's  Church  are  hereby  notified  to  meet  in  the 
Church  on  Wednesday  next  at  four  ''Clock  in  the  after- 
noon —  Then  and  there  after  a  Moderator  is  chosen  — 

To  see  if  the  Cono:re":ation  will  elect  one  or  more 
Lay  Delegates  to  represent  them  at  a  Convention  of  the 


284  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States  to  be 
holden  by  adjournment  at  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on 
the  29*.^  Day  of  September  current  — 

To  give  Such  Delegate  or  Delegates  such  Instructions 
as  may  be  thought  necessary.  —  By  Desire  of  the 
Vestry 

Sam^  Cutter      ) 

Tk  A  >  Wardens. 

Dudley  Atkins] 

Newburt  Port  Sep',  12',"  1789. 

RECCED    OF   meeting. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  and  others  usually 
worshipping  at  St.  Paul's  Church  held  in  said  Church 
on  Wednesday  the  16*''  Day  of  September  1789  pur- 
suant to  the  foregoing  Notification ;  John  Tracy 
Mod": 

Votedf  that  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Congregation 
that  the  Doings  of  no  Ecclesiastical  Convention  can 
bind  the  Churches  unless  there  be  therein  a  Representa- 
tion of  the  Laity  as  well  as  of  the  Clergy  and  a  Con- 
currence of  a  Majority  of  both  Orders. 

Voted  —  that  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  this  Church 
have  taken  every  Step  in  their  Power  to  procure  a 
Representation  from  the  Laity  of  the  Churches  in  New- 
Hampshire  and  this  State  in  the  General  Convention  to 
be  holden  at  Philadelphia  the  29*'*  Instant. 

Voted  —  That  the  Rev.  Samuel  Parker  D.  D.  (al- 
though, if  chosen  a  Delegate  by  the  Clergy  of  this 
State  and  of  New-Hampshire,  he  may  be  sufficiently 
authorized  to  represent  them  in  the  General  Convention 
of  the  Episcopal  Church)  can  in  no  manner  be  con- 


ELECTION   OF  BASS  TO   THE  EPISCOPATE.        285 

sidered  as  the  Representative  of  the  Laity  of  the  several 
Churches,  wherein  the  Clergymen  who  elected  him 
officiate. 

Voted  —  That  as  the  Clergy  of  this  State  and  of 
New-Hampshire  have  elected  Dr.  Parker  to  represent 
them  in  the  General  Convention,  it  is  the  Duty  of  this 
Congregation  to  endeavor  likewise  to  be  represented 
therein. 

Wherefore  Votedy  that  this  Congregation  proceed  to 
elect  two  Delegates  to  represent  the  Laity  of  this  Church 
at  the  said  Convention  — 

The  Hon.  Tristram  Dalton  and  the  Hon.  Elbridjje 
Gerry  Esq^  were  unanimously  elected  the  said  Dele- 
gates — 

Voted  —  that  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Jackson  Esquire, 
Dudley  Atkins  and  John  Tracy  Esquires  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  prepare  a  Draught  of  a  Letter  to  the  said  Dele- 
gates informing  them  of  their  Election,  stating  to  them 
the  Proceedings  that  have  been  had  relative  to  this 
subject,  and  requesting  them  to  accept  of  their  Delega- 
tion, and  that  the  said  Committee  report  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment of  this  Meeting. 

This  Meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  Friday  the  18th 
Inst. 

RECORD   OP  MEETING. 

Met  pursuant  to  adjournment  on  the  18th  Sept. 
1789  — 

The  Committee  appointed  for  that  Purpose  reported 
a  Draught  of  a  Letter  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Delegate 
chosen  at  this  Meeting,  which  being  read  and  duly  con- 
sidered was  unanimously  accepted  and  is  as  follows  — 
viz. 


286  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

NE^VBURY  Port,  Sep'  18, 1789. 

Gentlemen,  —  We,  the  Congregation  usually  wor- 
shipping at  S*  Paul's  Church  in  this  place,  beg  leave  to 
address  you  on  a  Subject  highly  interesting  to  us,  and, 
as  we  conceive,  of  no  trifling  concernment  to  the 
Churches  in  these  Eastern  States.  Having  unani- 
mously elected  you  to  represent  us  in  the  Convention 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  to  be  holden  by 
adjournment  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on  the  29*'* 
Instant,  it  is  our  Duty  to  State  to  you  our  reasons  for 
taking  a  Step,  which  may  possibly  from  its  Singularity 
need  some  Explanation.  In  order  to  which  we  must 
give  you  a  short  recital  of  some  Circumstances  which 
have  induced  us  to  adopt  this  measure. 

The  Journal  of  the  General  Convention,  which  was 
held  at  Philadelphia  from  the  28*?  of  July  to  the  8*'' 
of  August  last,  having  been  published,  is  undoubtedly 
in  your  hands.  To  that  Journal  we  refer  you  for  the 
Doings  of  a  Meeting  of  Sundry  Clergymen  of  this 
State  and  New  Hampshire  held  at  Salem  on  the  4*?* 
June  last,  observing  at  the  same  time,  that  neither 
before  their  meeting,  nor  afterwards,  did  we  or  any 
other  of  the  Churches  in  these  States,  receive  from 
those  Gentlemen  the  smallest  information  of  their  In- 
tentions or  proceedings ;  Except  that,  on  the  Succeed- 
ing Lord's  Day,  several  new  prayers  were  introduced 
into  the  Service  of  the  Church,  which,  as  we  afterwards 
learned,  had  been  agreed  upon  at  that  meeting.  When 
that  Journal  came  to  our  hands,  we  confess  we  were 
not  a  little  astonished  at  the  Proceedings  of  the  Meet- 
ing, to  which  we  have  referred. 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        287 

That  the  Clergy  alone  o£  our  Church  have  a  right  to 
elect  a  Bishop,  whose  Authority  shall  extend  over  the 
Laity,  is  a  Principle  we  can  by  no  means  accede  to  ; 
and,  from  the  very  Scrupulous  Secrecy  observed  by  our 
Ministers  upon  this  occasion,  we  are  led  to  believe  that 
it  is  a  Principle  they  do  not  feel  themselves  intirely 
founded  in. 

We  find  ourselves  therefore  bound  solemnly  to  pro- 
test against  the  late  election  at  Salem  being  drawn  into 
Precedent  on  any  future  occasion  ;  and  at  the  same 
time  we  declare  that  nothing  but  our  personal  know- 
ledge of,  &  most  intire  Esteem  and  veneration  for  the 
Rev"?  Gentleman,  who  was  the  object  of  that  Election 
prevents  our  entering  the  like  Protest  against  its 
validity. 

In  the  Journal  before-mentioned,  we  observe  the  Con- 
vention resolved  that  the  Eastern  and  other  Churches 
not  included  in  their  Union,  should  be  furnished  with 
Copies  of  their  Proceedings,  notified  of  the  time  & 
place  to  which  the  Convention  should  adjourn,  and 
requested  to  meet  them  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  a 
general  union  of,  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
America ;  We  observe  too  that  a  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  carry  that  Eesolution  into  Effect ;  And  we 
have  Satisfactory  Information  that  Communications  from 
that  Committee  on  the  Subject,  containing  the  request 
of  the  Convention,  were  received  at  an  early  day  by 
the  Ministers  of  the  Churches  in  these  States.  These 
Communications  have  not  yet  been  made  known  to  us ; 
and  we  are  even  indebted  to  a  private  Correspondent 
of  one  of  our  Number  for  the  Copy  of  the  Journal 
which  we  have. 


288  "  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Finding  by  that  Copy  that  our  Clergy  had  chosen  an 
Agent  to  represent  them  at  any  future  Convention,  and 
seriously  wishing  to  further,  to  the  utmost  of  our 
abilities  ;  the  very  laudable  &  Christian  designs  of  the 
Convention,  our  vestry  assembled  and  agreed  upon  a 
Circular  Letter  to  the  Several  Churches  in  Massachu- 
setts &  New  Hampshire  proposing  to  them  to  Join  us 
in  a  Lay-Convention  for  the  purpose  of  electing  one  or 
more  Deputies  to  represent  the  Laity  of  these  Churches 
in  the  adjourned  general  Convention.  Of  this  Letter 
&  of  the  answers  thereto,  which  have  been  received  we 
forward  you  Copies,  to  which  we  beg  leave  to  refer  you, 
at  the  same  time  suggesting  that  these  answers  are  all 
from  the  Vestries  only  of  the  several  Churches.  Had 
our  letter  been  communicated  to  their  Congregations,  it 
is  not  improbable  it  would,  in  some  Instances  at  least, 
have  received  different  replies. 

Thus  finding  that  our  proposal  had  taken  no  effect, 
and  that  we  were  alone  in  our  desires  to  procure  an 
extended  Representation  of  the  Laity  of  these  Churches 
in  the  General  Convention,  we  have  conceived  it  the 
only  Measure  left  us,  to  endeavour  to  procure  this 
Congregation  to  be  represented  therein.  We  have 
therefore  elected  you.  Gentlemen,  our  Delegates  to 
appear  in  our  Name  &  Behalf  at  the  General  Conven- 
tion of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  to  be  holden 
in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on  the  twenty-ninth  Day  of 
September  Instant  by  adjournment  from  the  eighth  day 
of  August  last.  We  hereby  impower  you  and  each  or 
either  of  you  in  our  Name  to  consent  and  agree  to  any 
Constitution  and  Canons  for  the  Government  and  Dis- 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        289 

cipline  of  the  Church,  and  also  to  any  alterations  in  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  which  you  shall  think  may 
have  a  Tendency  to  promote  the  Union  of  the  Church 
&  the  true  Interests  of  Religion  &  Virtue  — 

We  give  it  you  as  our  decided  opinion  that  in 
every  Ecclesiastical  Convention,  a  representation  of  the 
Laity  as  well  as  of  the  Clergy  is  necessary  to  give 
VaHdity  to  the  Acts  of  such  Convention.  We  intreat 
you  that  you  will  not  decline  this  burthen,  engaging 
to  acknowledge  with  all  gratitude  your  good  services 
herein.  We  beg  of  the  Right  Reverend,  Reverend  and 
worthy  members  of  the  General  Convention  to  receive 
you  into  their  Body.  And  finally  we  sincerely  pray 
the  great  head  of  the  Church,  who  is  the  giver  of  every 
good  gift,  to  endue  you  and  the  whole  Convention 
with  all  needed  wisdom  and  grace,  and  that  the  result 
of  your  doings  may  promote  the  Union  of  the  Church, 
and  the  real  Interests  of  pure  Christianity.  We  are. 
Gentlemen,  with  perfect  Consideration  and  Esteem,  your 
most  ob?  Hum.  Ser** 

JoN^  Jackson     ^ 
Dudley  Atkins  V  Committee. 
John  Tracy       j 
Signed  by  the  Unanimous  desire  of  the  Congregation. 
Attest 

Sam^  Cutter     1     Church 
Dudley  Atkins  |   Wardens. 

The  Honourable  Tristram  Dalton  and  the  Honourable 
Elbridge  Gerry,  Esquires,  New-York. 


290  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

There  is  no  record  that  Tristram  Dalton  and  Elbridge 
Gerry  were  admitted  to  the  General  Convention  as 
delegates,  but  from  a  sentence  in  Bishop  White's  "  Me- 
moirs "  it  appears  that  they  were  present  and  tried  to 
gain  admission. 

The  "  Act  of  the  clergy  of  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire  "  was  favorably  received  by  the  Convention  ; 
and  it  was  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  union  so 
much  desired.  Bishop  Seabury  was  received  with 
graciousness  ;  and  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  con- 
ferred upon  Edward  Bass  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity.  The  convention  in  a  series  of  resolutions 
expressed  itself  as  being  of  the  opinion  that  the  three 
bishops  could  unite  in  consecrating  a  fourth ;  and 
requested  the  bishops  so  to  consecrate  Edward  Bass. 

RESOLUTIONS. 

Resolved,  1st,  That  a  complete  Order  of  Bishops, 
derived  as  well  under  the  EngHsh  as  the  Scots  line  of 
Episcopacy,  doth  now  subsist  within  the  United  States 
of  America,  in  the  persons  of  the  Right  Rev.  William 
White,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania ;  the  Right  Rev. 
Samuel  Provoost,  D.  D.  Bishop  of  the  said  Church  in 
the  state  of  New  York ;  and  the  Right  Rev.  Samuel 
Seabury,  D.  D.  Bishop  of  the  said  Church  in  the  state 
of  Connecticut. 

2nd,  That  the  said  three  Bishops  are  fully  competent 
to  every  proper  act  and  duty  of  the  Episcopal  office  and 
character  in  these  United  States,  as  well  in  respect  to 
the  consecration  of  other  Bishops,  and  the  ordering  of 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        291 

Priests  and  Deacons,  as  for  the  government  of  the 
Church,  according  to  such  rules,  canons,  and  institu- 
tions, as  now  are,  or  hereafter  may  be  duly  made  and 
ordained,  by  the  Church  in  that  case. 

3rd,  That  in  Christian  charity,  as  well  as  of  duty, 
necessity,  and  expediency,  the  Churches  represented  in 
this  Convention  ought  to  contribute,  in  every  manner 
in  their  power,  towards  supplying  the  wants,  and  grant- 
ing every  just  and  reasonable  request  of  their  sister 
Churches  in  these  States ;  and  therefore, 

4th,  That  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  White,  and  the  Right 
Rev.  Dr.  Provoost,  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  requested 
to  join  with  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Seabury,  in  complying 
with  the  prayer  of  the  Clergy  of  the  States  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  Hampshire,  for  the  consecration  of 
the  Rev.  Edward  Bass,  Bishop-elect  of  the  Churches  in 
the  said  States  ;  but  that,  before  the  said  Bishops  com- 
ply with  the  request  aforesaid,  it  be  proposed  to  the 
Churches  in  the  New  England  States,  to  meet  the 
Churches  of  these  States,  with  the  said  three  Bishops,  in 
an  adjourned  convention,  to  settle  certain  articles  of 
union  and  discipline  among  all  the  Churches,  previous 
to  such  consecration. 

5th,  That  if  any  difficulty  or  delicacy,  in  respect 
to  the  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  England,  shall 
remain  with  the  Right  Rev.  Drs.  White  and  Provoost, 
or  either  of  them,  concerning  their  compliance  with 
the  above  request,  this  Convention  will  address  the 
Archbishops  and  hope  thereby  to  remove  the  diffi- 
culty.* 

*  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  401. 


292  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Though  these  resolutions  were  passed,  it  was  felt  by 
Bishop  White  that  he  ought  not  to  unite  with  Bishop 
Seabury  until  he  had  received  permission  from  the 
archbishops  in  England,  for  he  had  tacitly,  if  not 
explicitly,  agreed  not  to  unite  with  the  Scotch  Hue  of 
succession.  The  address  to  the  archbishops,  containing 
all  the  important  papers  concerning  the  election  of  Bass 
and  the  resolutions  of  the  convention,  stated  the  case 
thus  :  — 

EXTKACTS   FROM   AN   ADDRESS   TO  THE  MOST  REV.  THE  ARCH- 
BISHOPS  OF   CANTERBURY  AND   YORK. 

.  .  .  The  business  of  most  material  consequence 
which  hath  come  before  us,  at  our  present  meeting, 
hath  been  an  application  from  our  sister  Churches  in 
the  Eastern  States,  expressing  their  earnest  desire  of  a 
general  union  of  the  whole  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States,  both  in  doctrine  and  discipline  ;  and,  as 
a  primary  means  of  such  union,  praying  the  assistance 
of  our  bishops  in  the  consecration  of  a  Bishop  elect, 
for  the  states  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire. 
We  therefore  judge  it  necessary  to  accompany  this 
address  with  the  papers  which  have  come  before  us  on 
that  very  interesting  subject,  and  of  the  proceedings  we 
have  had  thereupon,  by  which  you  will  be  enabled  to 
judge  concerning  the  particular  delicacy  of  our  situa- 
tion, and,  probably,  to  relieve  us  from  any  difficulties 
which  may  be  found  therein.* 

The  union  of  the  churches  was  effected  directly  by 

^  Perry,  Notes  and  Documents,  p.  399. 


ELECTION  OF  BASS  TO  THE  EPISCOPATE.        293 

means  of  the  election  of  Bass.  His  consecration  was 
delayed  by  the  need  of  obtaining  permission  from 
England.  If  Bishop  White  had  been  willing  to  act 
at  once,  the  consecration  of  the  Bishop  of  Massachu- 
setts might  have  taken  place  immediately.  As  it  was, 
the  whole  matter  was  postponed,  at  first  temporarily, 
then  indefinitely.  The  reasons  why  the  consecration 
of  Bass  was  not  proceeded  with  are  various,  and  have 
been  variously  stated.  It  has  been  said  that  his  elec- 
tion was  not  made  really  with  the  idea  of  having  him 
consecrated,  but  as  a  test  case  to  influence  the  conven- 
tion and  bring  about  the  desired  union.  It  is,  however, 
highly  improbable  that  the  clergy  of  Massachusetts 
were  not  serious  in  their  election  of  a  bishop  ;  if  it  had 
been  merely  a  test  case,  the  laymen  would  not  have 
been  so  disturbed  by  their  exclusion  from  the  conven- 
tion. There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  election  was 
genuine  in  every  particular.  The  delay  must  be  ac- 
counted for  in  other  ways.  Bass  himself  speaks  of  his 
unwillingness  to  be  consecrated  because  of  his  feehng 
of  unfitness  for  the  office  and  the  expense  which  would 
be  necessary  were  he  to  be  consecrated.  The  small 
number  of  parishes  in  the  diocese  doubtless  made  it 
seem  less  necessary  for  Massachusetts  to  have  a  bishop 
of  its  own  ;  but  a  strong  reason  which  would  have  been 
kept  constantly  before  him  by  the  laymen  of  his  parish 
must  have  been  the  fact  that  no  laymen  assisted  in  the 
election,  and  his  unwillingness  to  assume  the  duties  of 
his  office  without  their  consent.  That  this  last  reason 
was  an  important  one  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  when 


294  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

his  consecration  really  was  decided  upon,  eight  years 
after  his  election  in  1789,  it  was  found  necessary  to 
elect  him  to  the  office  of  bishop  a  second  time ;  and  on 
this  occasion  the  laymen  were  present  and  voted  for 
him  unanimously. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

THE    CONSECRATION    OF   BISHOP    BASS. 

During  the  period  between  the  first  election  of  Ed- 
ward Bass  to  the  Episcopate,  in  1789,  and  his  second 
election  to  the  same  office,  in  1796,  the  rector  of  New- 
buryport  was  naturally  the  foremost  clergyman  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  in  Massachusetts.  His  brethren  came 
to  him  constantly  for  advice;  and  in  the  annual  con- 
ventions held  in  Boston  he  rendered  important  service 
to  the  church.  He  was  regularly  elected  as  presiding 
officer.  In  the  critical  convention  of  1790,  when  the 
draft  of  the  constitution  for  the  diocese  was  made,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  committee  "  to  frame  a  Plan  of 
an  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  for  the  Government  of 
the  Episcopal  Chui-ches  in  the  Commonwealth  and  such 
other  Churches  as  may  be  admitted  and  accede  to  the 
same."  The  constitution  resultino;  from  the  delibera- 
tions  of  this  committee  was  unanimously  adopted  in 
1791.  It  contained  the  germs  of  the  organic  law  of 
the  diocese,  which  afterwards  developed  into  the  present 
constitution.  It  provided  for  a  convention  of  clerical 
and  lay  deputies,  each  order  to  vote  separately  ;  and  for 
a  standing  committee.  It  also  provided  that  no  elec- 
tion of  a  bishop  should  be  held  unless  three  months' 
notice  of  the  proposed  election  be  given,  and  that  the 
election  should  take  place  at  the  annual  meeting.     This 


296  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

article  "was  inserted  so  that  there  might  never  again  be 
the  danger  of  a  secret  meeting  for  the  election  of  a 
bishop.  Bass  was  elected  a  member  of  the  standing 
committee,  and  was  appointed  with  others  to  arrange 
for  the  printing  of  the  Prayer  Book. 

The  question  of  the  election  of  a  bishop  came  up 
again  and  again  in  the  conventions  of  1794  and  1795, 
but  it  was  deemed  inexpedient  to  hold  an  election  until 
May  24,  1796.  The  meeting  was  held  in  Concert  Hall, 
Boston.  The  clergy  and  laymen  who  took  part  in  the 
election  were  :  — 

CLERGY. 

Rev.  Edward  Bass,  D.  D. 

Rev.  William  Walter,  D.  D. 

Rev.  William  Willard  Wheeler,  A.  M. 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Fisher,  A.  M. 

Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  D.  D. 

Rev.  William  Montague,  A.  M. 

Rev.  Joseph  Warren,  A.  M. 

Rev.  John  Silvester  John  Gardiner,  A.  M. 

Rev.  William  Harris,  A.  M. 

Rev.  Daniel  Burhans,  A.  M. 

LAY   DEPUTIES. 

Doct.  Thomas  Kast,  Perez  Morton,  Esq.,  and  William 
Walter,  Jr.,  Christ  Church,  Boston. 

Mr.  Richard  Green,  Mr.  Henry  Smith,  and  William 
Tudor,  Esq.,  Trinity  Church,  Boston. 

Dudley  Atkins  Tyng,  Esq.,  St.  Paul's  Church,  New- 
buryport. 

Samuel  Sewall,  St.  Michael's  Church,  Marblehead. 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  297 

Ebenezer  Miller,  Esq.,  Christ  Church,  Quincy. 
Mr.  George  Clark,  Christ  Church,  Declham. 
Mr.   William   Bradley,   St.    Luke's   Church,    Lanes- 
boro'. 

In  the  Journal  of  the  Convention  of  1796,  the  vote 
for  bishop  is  thus  recorded :  "  A  Vote  being  called 
for  by  ballot,  for  a  Bishop  elect,  there  appeared  seven 
votes  of  Clerical  members,  and  six  votes  of  the  Laity, 
(the  latter  being  unanimous,)  for  the  Rev.  Edward 
Bass,  D.  D.,  and  he  was  accordingly  chosen  Bishop 
elect." 

In  answer  to  the  formal  announcement  of  his  elec- 
tion. Dr.  Bass  wrote  a  letter  to  the  members  of  the 
convention  explaining  his  attitude  towards  his  previous 
election  and  his  reason  for  acquiescing  in  the  will  of 
his  brethren  :  — 

TO  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 

Newburyport,  Sept.  8, 1796. 

Reverend  and  Honored,  —  When  you  elected  me 
your  Bishop,  I  declined  accepting  your  choice,  in  which 
I  was  perfectly  sincere  and  as  much  in  earnest  as  ever  I 
was  in  my  life.  It  was  a  surprise  upon  me,  a  thing 
totally  unexpected  as  well  as  undesired.  Since  that 
time  so  many  things  have  been  said  to  me  by  various 
people,  urging  me  to  comply  with  your  election,  and 
having  duly  considered  our  critical  situation,  the  alter- 
cations, and  the  contrariety  of  opinions  and  sentiments 
at  our  late  Convention,  tending  to  delay,  for  how  long 


298  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

God  knows,  if  not  entirely  to  prevent  the  organization 
of  our  Church,  I  think  myself  bound  in  duty  to  ac- 
quiesce, and  to  make  a  beginning  in  this  business,  which 
it  is  probable,  according  to  the  course  of  nature,  I 
shall  shortly  quit,  and  leave  the  election  of  a  succes- 
sor more  easy.  I  suppose  I  must,  in  consequence  of 
this  my  determination,  proceed  to  Philadelphia,  which 
will  make  it  necessary  for  me  to  be  furnished  not  only 
with  your  credentials  but  also  with  the  unum  neces- 
sarium  for  travelling.  If  I  must  go  this  journey,  I 
should  choose  to  set  out  as  early  as  possible,  perhaps 
the  day  after  the  first  Sunday  of  next  month;  and 
must  beg  the  favor  of  you,  Gentlemen,  to  learn  from 
Bishop  White  whether  I  may  depend  upon  the  other 
Bishops. 

I  remain,  with  all  due  regards,  your  faithful, 

affectionate  brother,  and  humble  servant, 

Edward  Bass. 

The  election  being  accepted  by  Dr.  Bass,  it  became 
necessary  for  the  convention  to  arrange  for  his  conse- 
cration. A  committee  was  appointed  to  raise  by  sub- 
scription the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  to  defray  the 
expense  of  the  journey  to  Philadelphia,  where  the 
consecration  was  to  be  held.  Another  committee  was 
selected  to  correspond  with  the  consecrating  bishops 
who  had  been  chosen,  the  bishops  of  Pennsylvania, 
New  York,  and  Maryland.  The  time  appointed  for 
the  consecration  service  was  the  fourth  Sunday  of  Octo- 
ber, 1796 ;  but  owing  to  delays  which  the  following 
correspondence  will  make  clear,  and  the  difficulty  of 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  299 

bringing  tlie  bishops  together,  the  consecration  had  to 
be  postponed  until  May  7,  1797  :  — 

TO    BISHOP   WHITE. 

Boston,  11,  August,  1796. 

Right  Reverend  Sir,  —  The  Clergy  &  Delegates 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  of  this  Common- 
wealth having  at  their  annual  Convention  in  May  last 
made  Choice  of  the  Reverend  D"  Edward  Bass  to  pre- 
side over  them  as  their  Bishop,  and  the  Doctor  having 
after  due  deliberation  declared  his  Readiness  to  accept 
the  Choice,  it  now  becomes  necessary  to  present  him 
for  Consecration,  and  We  the  Undersigned  request  of 
you,  sir,  to  be  informed  whether  it  will  be  agreeable  to 
you  and  two  other  of  our  Right  Reverend  Fathers 
nearest  to  you  viz.,  the  Bishops  of  New  York  &  Mary- 
land to  attend  the  Business  of  Consecrating  our  said 
Bishop  Elect  in  the  Course  of  the  approaching  Autumn  ; 
or  whether  the  Rules  &  Customs  of  the  General  Con- 
vention will  render  a  Delay  necessary  till  such  Time  as 
the  Members  of  the  General  Convention  shall  come 
together  again,  which  will  be  at  no  Shorter  a  Period 
than  two  years  from  the  present  Date.  If  it  is  possible 
to  abridge  this  Period,  and  to  have  this  Holy  Office 
conferred  at  an  earlier  Day  it  will  be  a  Condescension 
very  grateful  to  the  Members  of  our  several  Churches, 
and  we  then  request  of  you  to  give  us  by  the  earliest 
opportunity  your  Opinion  upon  the  Subject. 

We  are  sensible  this  is  giving  you  a  great  Deal  of 
Trouble  for  which  we  should  be  induced  to  apologise 
did  we  not  know  that  whatever  tends  to  the  advance- 


300  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

ment  of  the  Interest  of  our  common  Church  must  be 
among  your  principal  Pleasures.     With  the  most  re- 
spectful Esteem  we  subscribe  ourselves 
Right  Reverend  Sir 
Your  most  obed* 

&  very  faithful  Servants 

^  'p  I  Standing  Committee 

TT  CI  1^    Pr:  Epis:  Church 

Henry  Smith  ,,   ^    , 

Perez  Morton 


Massachusetts. 


TO   THE   COMMITTEE. 

Aug.  22,  1796. 

Gentlemen,  —  I  rec**  your  Letter  of  the  11  Instant ; 
&  after  assuring  you  that  no  Attention  on  my  part  shall 
be  wanting  for  the  accomplishing  of  the  Object  of  it, 
proceed  to  call  your  Attention  to  the  following  particu- 
lars. 

By  the  1.  C""  of  the  last  Convention  it  is  provided 
that  the  Church  in  any  State  shall  not  proceed  to  the 
Election  of  a  Bp  ;  unless  there  be  at  least  6  Presbyters 
residing  &  o£E^  therein,  a  Majority  of  whom  shall  con- 
cur in  the  Election.  I  take  for  granted  that  the  Late 
Act  of  the  Ch:  in  Massachusetts  comes  within  this 
Description  ;  &  therefore  shall  not  remind  you  of  the 
Testimonial  to  be  signed  by  the  Members  of  the  state 
Convention,  agreeably  to  the  2^  Canon  of  1789,  with 
the  Latitude  for  those  who  cannot  sign  on  personal 
knowledge,  as  provided  by  the  4*^  Canon  of  1792  : 
The  Testimonial,  thus  signed,  should  be  sent  to  the  Gen- 
eral Convention,  if  in  Session  ;  but  dur'o^  their  Recess 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  301 

may  come  before  their  Standing  Committee,  as  a  Foun- 
dation for  the  Members  signing,  in  their  respective 
States,  the  Testimonial  required  on  their  part  by  the 
C.  of  1789  in  like  manner  as  was  done  in  the  Case  of 
Bp.  Madison.  The  latter  Testimonial  shd  be  commu- 
nicated to  the  prescribed  Number  of  Bp's,  who,  I  hope 
will  not  decline  the  Trouble  of  a  Meeting,  for  the  ac- 
complishing of  so  good  a  purpose  — 

It  is  probable,  that  I  have  referred  to  some  Points 
well  known  to  the  Gentlemen  I  am  addressing  ;  yet,  as 
they  have  asked  Information  of  me  in  one  particu- 
lar, I  thought  there  might  be  a  use  in  referring  them 
to  whatever  else  is  required  to  be  noticed  on  the  Occa- 
sion. 

Lest  the  Co"*  Journal  of  the  last  Cono°  should  not  be 
in  your  hands,  I  shall  subjoin  to  this  letter  the  Names 
of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Standing  Committee. 

With  my  Prayers  &  best  Wishes  for  the  Ch.  in  Mass: 
for  yourselves  in  par:   &  for  the  Sucess  &  the  good 
effects  of  the  Measure  in  which  you  are  engaged 
I  am  Gentlemen 

Your  Broth  &  very  humble  Servt 

w.  w. 

TO    BISHOP  WHITE. 

Boston,  15,  Sep'  1796. 
Right  Rev.  Sir,  —  We  take  the  Liberty  of  ac- 
quainting you  that  since  the  Standing  Committee  of 
this  Commonwealth  had  the  Honour  of  receiving  your 
Letter  on  the  Subject  of  Consecrating  our  Bishop  Elect 
a  Special  Convention  of  our  Church  has  been  held 
when  it  was  agreed  to  apply  to  the  Right  Rev*^  the 


302  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Bishops  of  New  York  &  Maryland  to  know  if  it  would 
be  agreeable  to  them  to  meet  you  in  Philadelphia  on 
the  fourth  Sunday  in  October  next  being  the  23'*  Day 
of  that  month  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  that  holy 
office  on  our  said  Bishop  Elect,  we  have  accordingly 
written  to  those  Gentlemen  on  the  Subject  &  hope  it 
will  be  convenient  &  agreeable  to  them  &  to  yourself, 
&  if  it  is  D""  Bass  will  be  present  with  the  proper  Testi- 
monials &  you  will  greatly  obHge  the  Churches  of  this 
Commonwealth  &  particularly 
Right  Rev**  Sir 

Your  most  obed*  Serv* 
W.  Walter,  'I 

Samuel  Parker,  >  Committee. 

John  Silvester  J.  Gardiner,  J 

P.  S.  We  have  taken  the  Liberty  to  enclose  our 
Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  Maryland  in  yours,  as  not 
knowing  the  place  of  his  Residence  nor  the  readiest 
mode  of  conveyance,  requesting  at  the  same  [time]  the 
favour  of  an  Answer  as  soon  as  possible  &  that  you 
will  take  the  trouble  to  convey  the  Letter  to  him  &  sol- 
Hcit  his  Answer. 

BISHOP  WHITE   TO   THE   COMMITTEE. 

Philad*  Sept.  23"  1796. 

To  the  Rev^  W.  Walter  D.  D.  Rev^  S.  Parker  &  Rev^ 
John  Sylvester  Gardner,  the  Committee  of  the  Prot. 
Ep.  Ch.  in  Massachusetts. 
Gentlemen,  —  I  received  your  Letter  of  the  15*^ 

Inst.   &  have  forwarded  that   enclosed   in   it  to  Bp. 

Claggett.     On  the  Subject  of  your  Application  I  have 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  303 

only  to  say,  that  I  shall  hold  myself  in  Readiness  for 
the  Occasion  in  Contemplation.  But  as  it  will  require 
the  Part  of  Bp.  P.  and  that  of  Bp.  Claggett,  it  will  lie 
on  them  to  declare  to  you  how  far  such  Journeys  will 
be  consistent  with  their  Engagements. 

Give  me  leave,  Gentlemen,  however,  to  express  my 
Apprehensions,  that  there  may  have  been  some  Mistake 
in  this  Business.  They  are  grounded  on  the  Shortness 
of  the  Time,  in  Connection  with  the  Circumstance  that 
I  hear  of  no  Application  yet  made  to  the  Members  of 
the  gen.  Co"""^®  resident  in  this  City.  Now  as  Apph- 
cation  must  be  made  to  Gentlemen  in  all  the  different 
States  concerned,  there  seems  room  to  doubt  whether 
the  Measure  can  be  accomplished  in  due  Time.  Be- 
sides, I  fear  the  Bps  may  apprehend  an  Impropriety  in 
makg  Journeys  on  the  meer  Presumption  of  the  neces- 
sary Signatures  being  obtained  ;  however  little  Reason 
there  may  be  to  doubt  of  the  Success  of  your  Applica- 
tion for  them  —  I  have  mentioned  the  Subject  to  the 
clerical  Members  of  the  Gen.  Comm®®  living  in  the  City 
&  to  the  Presid:  of  the  late  House  of  clerical  &  lay 
Deputies,  who,  as  you  will  see  in  p.  20  of  the  Journal, 
is  the  Chairman  of  that  Comm^®  —  These  Gentlemen 
expressed  the  greatest  Readiness  to  forward  your  Views, 
but  thought  they  could  do  nothing  untill  applied  to. 
I  take  the  Liberty  therefore  of  suggesting  the  Pro- 
priety of  making  such  an  Application,  which  will  be 
best  done  through  the  Chairman.  You  will  understand 
any  Freedom  which  I  take  of  this  sort,  to  be  in  Conse- 
quence of  your  doing  me  the  Honor  of  having  Recoiu-se 
to  me  for  Information.     Because  I  oug-ht  not  to  be 


304  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

presumed  to  know  any  thing  officially  on  the  Subject, 
untill  the  Papers  are  duly  signed.  I  suppose  that  when 
complete  they  should  be  sent  to  me,  who,  I  believe,  by 
the  established  Rotation  of  the  Presidency,  am  to  be 
considered  as  holding  it  until  the  next  General  Conven- 
tion. 

I  remain   Gentlemen 

Yours  &c 

W.  W. 

DRAFT   OF   A   LETTER   TO   BISHOP   CLAGGETT,    SEPT.  23,  1796. 

W  Rev^  &  Dear  Sir,  —  It  is  proper  that  in  for- 
warding the  enclosed  I  should  communicate  to  you  all 
the  Information  I  am  possessed  of  on  the  Subject. 

Not  long  ago,  I  rec*^  from  the  Comm^f  of  the  Ch  in 
Mass.  Information  of  their  Election  of  a  Bp.  with  the 
Desire  to  be  furnished  with  Particulars  to  be  attended 
to,  for  the  forwarding  of  his  Consecration.  In  my 
Answer  I  pointed  out  to  them  all  the  Places  in  the 
Journals,  which  could  throw  Light  on  the  Subject :  in 
doing  which  I  did  not  fail  to  advert  to  the  Testimonial 
to  be  signed  by  the  General  Convention  or  their 
Comm^® ;  &  for  the  Names  &  Powers  of  the  Comm®®  I 
referred  them  to  the  latter  end  of  the  last  Journal  of  the 
H.  of  C.  &  L.  Deputies  with  it's  Reference  to  Page  19 
of  the  Journal  of  1789  —  And  I  acquainted  them  that 
in  the  Case  of  Bp.  Maddison,  the  Paper  was  signed  by 
the  Members  in  their  respective  States. 

The  Comm^®  of  Massachusetts  have  now  requested 
Bp.  P.  you  &  me,  to  consecrate  D""  Bass  on  a  Day  not 
very  distant.     But  as  there  is  not,  as  yet,  any  Applica- 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  305 

tion  to  the  Members  of  the  Gen.  Comm**  Uving  in  this 
City  who  make  a  considerable  Proportion  of  the  Body, 
I  am  not  without  Apprehension  of  some  Misunderstand- 
ing in  the  Business. 

On  a  Question  of  our  Meeting  for  the  Purpose,  I 
have  Nothing  to  say,  as  it  happens  that  I  reside  in  the 
Place  which  has  been  proposed;  &  which  I  suppose 
also,  would  be  the  most  convenient ;  altho  if  any  other 
shd  be  thought  of  as  more  so  for  Bp.  P.  &  you,  I  shd 
be  happy  to  accomodate  to  you.  As  the  Matter  rests, 
it  will  he  on  you  two  Gentlemen  to  declare  what  is  to 
be  done.  In  the  mean  Time,  I  shall  write  to  Boston  to 
express  my  Apprehensions  ;  &  if  it  should  appear,  that 
the  preparatory  Business  cannot  be  expedited  before 
the  Time  proposed,  which  is  th*  will  be  the  case  by  the 
Members  of  the  Comm^®  in  this  City,  I  shall  not  fail  to 
inform  you 

In  the  mean  time,  I  remain 
&c  &c 

w.  w. 

TO   BISHOP   WHITE. 

Boston,  10,  Oct.  1796. 
Right  Rev^  Sir,  —  Not  having  received  any  Letter 
from  Bishop  Clagget  in  answer  to  the  one  we  wrote 
him  to  know  if  it  would  be  convenient  for  him  to 
attend  at  Philadelphia  to  assist  in  the  Consecration  of 
the  Rev"!  D'"  Bass,  we  are  left  in  such  uncertainty  re- 
specting the  Possibility  of  his  attendance  at  the  Time 
proposed  viz.,  the  fourth  Sunday  of  this  month  and  the 
Season  so  rapidly  advancing  when  the  Traveling  will  be 
bad  &  the  weather  unpleasantly   cold   that   we  have 


306  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

judged  it  best  under  all  these  Circumstances  to  defer 
the  Business  till  next  Spring  when  we  shall  hope  all 
difficulties  will  be  removed  &  the  event  will  take  place 
under  kinder  auspices. 

Of  this  Alteration  of  Measures  we  take  the  Liberty  of 
acquainting  you  that  you  may  not  expect  the  Gentle- 
men at  the  Time  proposed,  you  will  please  to  accept 
our  grateful  acknowledgements  for  your  Readiness  to 
comply  with  our  wishes  &  for  the  Information  which 
you  so  obligingly  gave  us  &  are  with  every  Sentiment 
of  Respect  &  Esteem 

Right  Rev^  Sir 
Your  most  obed* 

&  very  faithful  Serv*^ 

W.  Walter,  ^ 

S.  Parker,  V  Committee. 

J.  S.  J.  Gardiner,  J 

[Note  to  the  above  letter.] 

Not  knowing  whether  the  Post  passes  the  Place 
of  Bishop  Claggets  Residence  we  take  the  liberty  of 
inclosing  his  to  you  requesting  that  you  will  take  the 
earliest  opportunity  of  forwarding  it  to  him  that  he 
may  be  acquainted  with  the  alteration  of  our  Measures 
&  the  reasons  for  it. 

TESTIMONIALS. 

We  whose  Names  are  underwritten,  fully  sensible 
how  important  it  is  that  the  sacred  office  of  a  Bishop 
should  not  be  unworthily  conferred,  &  firmly  persuaded 
that  it  is  our  duty  to  bear  Testimony  on  this  solemn 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  307 

occasion  -without  partiality  or  affection,  Do,  in  the 
presence  of  Almighty  God  testify  that  the  Reverend 
Edward  Bass  Rector  of  S*  Pauls  Church  in  Newbury- 
port  &  Doctor  in  Divinity,  is  not  so  far  as  we  are  in- 
formed justly  liable  to  evil  report,  either  for  Error  in 
Religion  or  for  viciousness  of  life  ;  and  that  we  do  not 
know  or  believe  there  is  any  Impediment  or  notable 
Crime,  for  which  he  ought  not  to  be  consecrated  to 
that  holy  Office. 

We  do  moreover  jointly  &  severally  declare,  that 
having  personally  known  him  for  three  years  last  past, 
we  do  in  our  Consciences  believe  him  to  be  of  such 
Sufficiency  in  good  Learning,  such  soundness  in  the 
Faith,  &  of  such  virtuous  and  pure  manners,  &  godly 
Conversation,  that  he  is  apt  and  meet  to  exercise  the 
Office  of  a  Bishop,  to  the  honour  of  God,  &  the  edify- 
ing of  his  Church,  &  to  be  an  wholesome  Example  to 
the  flock  of  Christ  — 

Done  at  a  special  Convention  of  the  Clergy  &  Lay- 
delegates  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  in  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  holden  at  Boston  the 
fourteenth  Day  of  Septem""  in  the  year  1796  — 

CLERGY. 

W  Walter,  D.  D.  Rector  of  Christ  Chh  Boston 
S  Parker,  D.  D.  Rect'  of  Trinity  Chh  Boston 
J  S  J  Gardiner  Assistant  Minister  of  sd  Church 
W^  Montagu  Rect  of  Christ  Church,  Dedham 
W^  Harris  Rector  of  S*  Michaels,  Marblehead 


308  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

LAY   DELEGATES. 

Perez  Morton      ^  Lay  Delegates  of 
Tho^  Kast  )-    Christ  Church 

W^  Walter,  Jr.  J  Boston. 

Henry  Smith        ^    Lay  Delegates 
>  Trinity  Church 
Richard  Green    J  Boston. 

Dudley  A.  Tyng  Lay  Delegate  S*  Paul's  Newbury 

Port 

Eben  Miller  Lay  Delegate  Clirists  Church,  Quincy 

George  Clark,  Christ  Church  Dedham 

Samuel  Sewall,  Lay  Delegate  S*  Michael's  Church 

Marblehead. 

On  May  7,  1797,  Dr.  Bass  was  consecrated  to  the 
office  of  a  bishop  in  the  Church  of  God  in  Christ 
Church,  Philadelphia.  The  building  was  crowded  with 
devoted  churchmen  who  had  come  to  see  a  chief  pastor 
set  over  the  diocese  in  Massachusetts.  The  sermon, 
preached  by  the  Rev.  William  Smith,  D.  D.,  was  from 
the  text  found  in  2  Timothy  iv.  1-5.  The  preacher 
dwelt  upon  the  spiritual  conception  of  a  bishop's  office 
and  urged  apostolical  simplicity  as  the  ideal  of  the 
Episcopate  in  America.  "  Moreover,  Brethren,"  he 
said,  "  standing,  as  I  think  we  may  consider  ourselves, 
nearly  on  the  same  primitive  foundation  of  Purity  and 
Simplicity  in  the  Church  government,  and  a  free  Order 
of  Things  among  ourselves,  (under  our  happy  Civil 
Constitution),  as  the  Apostles  and  first  Christians  stood  j 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  309 

when  they  neither  courted  human  authority,  or  human 
splendour,  nor  were  courted  by  them ;  let  us  I  say 
again,  be  bold  and  diligent  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  to 
hear  the  Apostle's  charge."  ^  The  significance  of  the 
consecration  was  brought  out  by  the  preacher  in  an- 
other passage  of  the  sermon,  in  which  he  rejoiced  in 
the  complete  organization  of  the  American  Episcopal 
Church :  "  Glory,  Thanksgiving  and  Praise  to  God  of 
Heaven  and  Earth,  who  in  his  own  good  time  hath 
been  pleased  to  relieve  Our  Church  in  this  American 
land,  from  distress  under  which  She  hath  so  long 
mourned  and  bewailed  herself ;  by  supplying  us  with  a 
Complete  Episcopate,  without  having  recourse  to  any 
distant  or  foreign  land ;  being  now  enabled  under  God 
on  Sound  Evangelical  principles,  to  ordain  Elders  in 
every  City,  to  send  them  forth  to  preach  Spiritual  Lib- 
erty to  miserable  Captives  held  under  the  Powers  of 
Darkness."  ^ 

CONSECRATION   PAPERS. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we,  William 
White,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  presiding  Bishop, 
Samuel  Provoost,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Thomas 
John  Clagget,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  under  the  protec- 
tion of  Almighty  God,  in  Christ  Church,  in  the  City  of 
Philadelphia,  on  Sunday,  the  seventh  day  of  May,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 

»  WilUam  Smith,  Sermons,  vol.  ii.  p.  562.  »  Ibid.,  p.  667. 


310  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

ninety  seven,  being  the  third  Sunday  after  Easter,  did 
then  and  there  rightly  and  canonically  consecrate  our 
beloved  in  Christ,  Edward  Bass,  Eector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  in  Newburyport,  in  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  of  whose  sufficiency  in  good  learning, 
soundness  in  the  faith,  and  purity  of  manners,  we  were 
fully  ascertained,  into  the  office  of  Bishop  in  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts, to  which  the  said  Edward  Bass  hath  been 
elected  by  the  Convention  of  said  State. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  signed  our  names, 
and  caused  our  seals  to  be  affixed.  Given  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  this  seventh  day  of  May,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety- 
seven. 

William  White,  [Seal] 

Samuel  Provoost,  [Seal] 

Thomas  John  Clagget,  [Seal] 

When  Bishop  Bass  returned  to  Massachusetts  he  was 
received  with  welcome  by  his  clergy  and  laymen,  as- 
sembled in  Trinity  Church,  Boston,  on  May  30,  1797. 
"  The  Delegates  being  seated  in  the  front  pews  in  the 
Church,"  reads  the  Journal  of  the  Convention,  "  the 
Clergy  conducted  the  Bishop,  clothed  in  his  Episcopal 
robes,  from  the  Vestry-room  to  the  Altar,  where  he  took 
his  seat  on  the  north-side,  the  Clergy  standing  in  front." 
Then  the  Rev.  Dr.  Walter  delivered  to  the  bishop  the 
following  address  :  — 

Right  Reverend  Sir,  —  It  having  pleased  the  Di- 
vine Wisdom,  in  condescension  to  the  wishes  and  prayers 
of  that   portion  of  the  Protestant   Episcopal   Church 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  311 

which  is  planted  in  this  Commonwealth,  to  place  an 
Episcopate  at  its  head,  and  thereby,  for  the  first  time, 
to  give  to  it  a  complete  organization,  we  felicitate  our 
brethren  and  ourselves  that  this  appointment  has  fallen 
upon  one  who  possesses  in  so  eminent  a  degree  the 
requisites  which  inspiration  points  as  essential  in  one 
who  is  to  fill  so  important  a  station,  one  who  excells 
in  meekness,  gentleness,  gravity,  justice,  purity,  and 
ardent  piety,  a  lover  of  God  and  good  men,  tenacious 
of  and  zealous  for  the  truths  that  we  are  to  be  taught, 
one  who  is  reaching  forth  and  advancing  fast  towards 
the  heavenly  prize,  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus,  and  both  by  his  exhortations  and  example  lead- 
ing the  flock  committed  to  his  charge  in  the  same 
joyful  and  happy  track.  For  ourselves,  we  receive  you 
with  exultation  as  our  common  friend  and  father,  and 
engage  to  render  you  all  that  affectionate  respect  and 
submissive  attention  which  is  due  to  your  place  and 
rank,  and  flatter  ourselves  that  beneath  your  parental 
care  we  shall  be  united  as  a  band  of  brothers,  and 
walking  together  in  peaceful  fellowship,  shall  have  the 
great  pleasure  to  see  our  Church,  the  Church  of  the 
Redeemer,  increase  and  multiply. 

Long  may  you  possess  your  honors ;  long  may  we 
enjoy  your  presence ;  and  late,  very  late,  may  He  who 
holds  the  keys  of  the  invisible  world  remove  you  from 
this  seat  of  dignity  on  earth  to  a  seat  of  eminence  pro- 
portionate among  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect  in 
the  kingdom  of  his  Father. 

In  the  name  and  by  the  order  of  the  Convention. 

W.  Walter. 

Boston,  May  30,  1797. 


312  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

To  which  the  Bishop,  standing,  delivered  this  affec- 
tionate answer :  — 

My  dear  Brethren,  —  It  is  with  much  pleasure  that 
I  meet  you  upon  this  occasion,  especially  as  it  gives  me 
an  opportunity  of  congratulating  with  you  upon  the 
complete  organization  of  our  Church.  God  Almighty 
grant  that  it  may  grow  up  into  Him  in  all  things, 
which  is  the  Head  even  Christ :  from  whom  the  whole 
body,  fitly  joined  together,  and  compacted  by  that 
which  every  joint  supplieth,  according  to  the  effectual 
working  in  the  measure  of  every  part,  maketh  increase 
of  the  body,  unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in  love.  Eph. 
iv.  15,  16. 

I  thank  you  for  your  affectionate  address  ;  and  as  for 
the  favorable  expressions  in  it  concerning  me,  so  much 
beyond  what  I  have  any  pretentions  to,  the  use  I  shall 
make  of  them  will  be  to  remind  myself  of  what  I  ought 
to  be  —  thoroughly  sensible  of  my  incompetency  for 
the  important  station  in  the  Church  which  you  have 
assigned  me,  I  shall  greatly  rely  on  your  advice  and 
assistance  upon  all  occasions,  as  the  exigence  of  cases 
may  require. 

In  our  endeavors  to  promote  the  interest  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  in  this  Diocese,  something  will  de- 
pend upon  me,  and  much,  Reverend  Brethren,  upon 
you ;  and,  give  me  leave  to  observe,  that  much  also  will 
depend  upon  our  brotherly  correspondence  and  cor- 
dial harmony  and  agreement  among  ourselves.  Besides 
the  great  pleasure  of  living  together  in  unity,  it  will 
be  holding  forth  a  good  example  to  others,  and  it  is 


THE  CONSECRATION  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  313 

enjoined  upon  us,  that  we  be  examples  to  the  flock. 
That  our  united  efforts  may  be  happily  successful,  for 
the  edification  of  the  Church  and  rendering  it  truly 
respectable  and  flourishing,  shaU  ever  be  the  wish  and 
prayer  of  your  faithful  servant  and  affectionate  brother. 

E.  B. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    EPISCOPATE    OF    BISHOP    BASS. 

Full  of  years,  and  with  a  ripened  experience,  the 
good  bishop  returned  to  his  parish  in  Newburyport. 
The  duties  of  the  Episcopate  were  added  to  those  of 
the  parish  minister;  and  though  the  former  were 
neither  numerous  nor  arduous  the  bishop  performed 
them  with  his  accustomed  precision  and  courtesy. 

These  years  of  his  bishopric  were  happy  ones,  for 
he  was  freed  from  the  annoyances  and  party  strife  of 
his  earher  days ;  and  his  loyal  friends  made  him  the 
welcome  guest  in  their  hospitable  homes.  The  pro- 
sperity of  Newburyport,  after  the  Treaty  of  Peace,  was 
phenomenal ;  and  as  the  wealth  of  the  people  increased 
they  became  more  liberal  to  the  church.  Dr.  Morss, 
the  successor  of  Bishop  Bass  to  the  rectorship  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  has  described  the  changed  circumstances 
of  his  life :  "  When  peace  was  restored  his  embarrass- 
ments were  in  a  considerable  degree  made  tranquil  by 
the  kind  attentions  of  his  parishioners,  and  were  hap- 
pily spent  in  the  bosom  of  his  friends."  ^  The  testimony 
of  those  who  have  written  concerning  the  bishop  is 
unanimous  in  referring  to  him  as  a  scholarly  and  dig- 
nified gentleman,  with  courtesy  toward  those  who 
differed  from  him,  and  a  nature  that  seemed  to  call 

1  James  Morss,  Episcopal  Church  in  Newburyp&rt,  p.  22. 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  315 

out  the  affections  of  the  community.  Caleb  Gushing, 
writing  not  long  after  the  bishop's  death,  pays  him  a 
just  tribute  which  gives  us  a  glimpse  of  him  in  his 
daily  life  in  Newburyport.  "  Bishop  Bass  was  remark- 
able in  private  life,"  says  Mr.  Gushing,  "  for  his  urban- 
ity and  serenity  of  temper,  and  his  discharge  of  all 
duties  incumbent  on  him  in  his  several  social  relations ; 
and  as  a  clergyman  and  diocesan  was  eminent  for  his 
faithful  attention  to  all  his  official  functions  by  which 
he  gained  the  affections  of  his  people  and  the  Venera- 
tion of  the  Gommunity."  ^ 

The  scholarship  of  Bishop  Bass  is  well  illustrated  by 
an  item  from  the  diary  of  Dr.  Bentley,  written  after 
the  bishop's  death  :  — 

DIARY   OF   DR.    BENTLEY. 

I  received  from  Newburyport  a  catalogue  of  Bishop 
Bass'  Hbrary,  which  is  to  be  sold  on  Friday  next.  .  .  . 
The  catalogue  contained  46  Folios  &  240  volumes  be- 
sides, including  all  sorts  found  in  his  hands.  This 
would  not  be  a  considerable  Hbrary  in  Europe,  but  it  is 
greater  than  is  commonly  found  among  our  prominent 
divmes  in  America,  &  is  more  of  a  Theological  cast 
than  I  have  seen  except  the  library  of  the  Mathers, 
Dy  Mather  Byles,  Ghauncy  &  Gooper,  or,  in  other 
words,  than  ever  I  have  seen  out  of  Boston,  no  one 
excepted. 

I  could  not  help  noticing,  in  going  over  the  cata- 
logue, I  did  not  find  the  least  notice  of  a  Greek  Testa- 

^  Caleb  Cashing,  Newburyport,  p.  46. 


316  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

ment  ...  no  modern  or  late  commentary  even  of  his 
own  Church.  .  .  .  The  same  inattention  to  American 
history.^ 

The  pecuHar  sweetness  of  his  character  was  recog^ 
nized  by  his  contemporaries  on  all  sides,  and  is  referred 
to  often  by  those  who  had  a  right  to  speak  from  an 
intimate  acquaintance  with  him.  His  Christian  courtesy 
and  broad-mindedness  have  never  been  called  in  ques- 
tion except  by  the  enemies  who  sought  to  injure  him 
during  the  Revolution,  thus  creating  a  tradition  not 
altogether  favorable,  which  has  come  down  to  our  own 
time ;  but  such  derogatory  statements  are  unjust  and 
can  only  be  made  by  those  who  forget  the  life  as  a 
whole,  and  fix  upon  certain  remarks  in  his  earlier  let- 
ters, ignoring  the  numerous  acts  of  brotherly  sympathy 
which  always  distinguished  him  in  his  relations  with 
those  who  belonofed  to  other  branches  of  the  church  of 
Christ.  In  this  connection,  the  following  words  of 
a  friend  are  interesting  :  "  Bishop  Bass  in  conversation 
was  interesting  and  instructive.  He  had  a  great  fund 
of  anecdote  by  which  he  made  himself  alike  entertain- 
ing to  the  aged  and  the  young.  He  was  exceedingly 
affable  and  accessible ;  his  house  was  the  seat  of  hospi- 
tality and  his  fireside  the  resort  of  politeness  and  socia- 
bility. His  hand  was  always  open  to  the  call  of  charity, 
and  when  sometimes  deceived  by  impostors  it  was  his 
usual  remark  that  *  it  was  better  to  give  to  two  unde- 
serving than  to  drive  a  single  deserving  person  from 
his  door.'     In  his  domestic  character  he  was  kind  and 

*  J.  J.  Currier,  Ould  Newbury,  p.  416. 


THE  EPISCOPATE   OF  BISHOP  BASS.  317 

affectionate  and  never  failed  of  winning  the  love  of 
those  under  his  roof."  ^ 

The  bishop  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  the  leading 
men  of  Newburyport,  many  of  whom  were  his  devoted 
parishioners.  Tristram  Dalton  was  his  lifelong  friend, 
and  others  equally  prominent  were  his  daily  companions 
for  many  years  ;  men  Hke  Rufus  King,  United  States 
Senator  and  twice  minister  to  England  ;  Captain  Nicho- 
las Tracy,  the  brave  commander  of  many  a  privateering 
expedition ;  Patrick  Tracy,  one  of  the  most  successful 
merchants  of  his  day ;  and  John  Tracy,  who  had  been 
aide-de-camp  to  General  Glover.  With  his  sense  of 
humor,  one  may  imagine  how  he  enjoyed  the  eccentrici- 
ties of  the  notorious  Timothy  Dexter,  who  made  a 
fortune  by  sending  warming  pans  and  woolen  mit- 
tens to  the  West  Indies ;  and  entered  the  company  of 
authors  by  publishing  "  A  Pickle  for  the  Knowing 
Ones,"  —  a  small  book  without  any  punctuation  marks, 
having  them,  however,  placed  all  together  in  the  last 
pages,  with  the  object  of  permitting  the  reader  to  make 
his  own  selection.  Dexter's  generosity  to  St.  Paul's 
Church  was  marked  by  his  usual  oddity,  when  he  con- 

f  ^  No  serious  change  was  made  in  the  domestic  arrangements  of  Ed- 
ward Bass  when  his  wife,  Sarah  Beck,  died  on  May  5,  1789.  Six  months 
after  her  death,  November  18,  1789,  he  married  Mercy  Phillips.  She 
was  the  bishop's  constant  companion  until  his  death.  She  lived  to  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years  and  died  on  January  13,  1842.  The  shortness 
of  the  time  that  elapsed  between  the  death  of  his  first  wife  and  his 
second  marriage  gave  rise  to  no  little  talk  in  the  town.  The  rector  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  answered  these  criticisms  to  the  amusement  of  his  parish- 
ioners by  selecting,  for  his  sermons  on  succeeding  Sundays,  texts  that 
were  applicable  to  his  recent  marriage  :  "My mercy  will  I  keep."  Psalms 
Ixxxix.  28  ;  and  "  Surely  the  fear  of  God  is  not  in  this  place  ;  and  they 
wiU  slay  me  for  my  wife's  sake."     Genesis  xx.  11. 


318  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

tributed  to  its  treasury  a  gift  of  money,  which  he  like- 
wise gave  to  the  other  churches  of  the  town,  amounting, 
in  each  case,  to  the  unique  sum  of  $333.33. 

The  bishop  must  have  been  a  familiar  figure  in  the 
homes  of  the  people ;  and  when  any  social  festivity  was 
in  progress  he  must  have  been  conspicuous  among 
the  handsomely  dressed  gentlemen  and  gentlewomen  ; 
the  men  in  their  long  coats  of  many  colors,  made  re- 
splendent by  silver  buttons,  their  satin  waistcoasts 
embroidered  with  floral  designs,  and  their  red  velvet 
breeches ;  the  women,  in  their  long  waisted  brocades 
with  flowing  sleeves,  tripping  along  in  their  high-heeled 
shoes.  The  bishop  wore  a  long  black  coat  with  large 
pocket  folds,  and  small  clothes,  made  more  dignified 
by  his  black  silk  stockings.  His  three-cornered  hat  was 
an  annual  gift  from  the  Hon.  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  who  felt 
always  his  deep  obligation  to  the  good  bishop,  he  hav- 
ing aided  young  Tyng  financially,  as  weU  as  in  other 
ways,  through  Dummer  Academy  and  Harvard  College. 
The  gift  was  conferred  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
bishop  by  a  surreptitious  change  of  the  old  one  for  a 
new  one,  the  new  one  being  hung  on  its  peg  in  the 
hall,  when  the  bishop  was  deeply  engaged  in  his  studies. 
The  relations  between  the  rector  and  his  warden  are 
illustrated  by  a  story  about  their  joint  shooting  expedi- 
tions. When  game  was  found,  the  warden  respectfully 
stood  aside  and  said,  "  Reverend  Sir,  fire !  "  The 
bishop  lived  on  such  intimate  terms  with  his  people 
that  frequently  he  would  meet  one  of  them  and  say, 
*'  I  will  take  my  dinner  and  smoke  my  pipe  with  you 
to-day,  and  I  shall  bring  so-and-so  with  me."     Very 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS  319 

little  of  the  bishop's  wit  has  survived,  but  his  contem- 
poraries who  have  spoken  of  his  manner  of  conversation 
asfree  that  it  was  exuberant  and  altog-ether  charminof. 

His  conciHatory  character  is  illustrated  by  two  inci- 
dents. At  one  time  he  had  a  discussion  with  his  next 
door  neijrhbor  over  a  division  fence  that  was  to  be 
built.  The  bishop  directed  the  workman  to  place  the 
posts  on  what  he  considered  the  true  division  line.  The 
neighbor  strenuously  objected ;  and  after  some  fui'ther 
parley,  the  bishop,  entering  his  house,  turned  and 
quietly  said  to  the  workman,  "  Place  the  posts  as  Mr.  X. 
directs."  Mr.  X.  was  amazed  at  the  words  of  the 
bishop  ;  and  when  the  workman  again  asked  for  du-ec- 
tions  Mr.  X.  answered,  "  Set  them  as  Dr.  Bass  told  you." 
On  another  occasion,  at  a  funeral,  he  was  walking  be- 
tween two  celebrated  preachers,  neither  of  whom  was 
on  speaking  terms  with  the  other,  and  yet  each  ad- 
dressed the  bishop  as  "  Brother  Bass." 

As  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  as  well  as  bishop,  he 
continued  to  take  an  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  town, 
serving  it  on  special  public  occasions,  and  regularly  on 
the  "  Committee  to  visit  the  town  schools."  When  the 
memorial  service  was  held  in  token  of  respect  to  George 
Washington,  the  bishop  was  selected  to  make  the  prayer. 
His  service  on  the  school  committee  seems  to  have  be- 
gun about  1788  and  continued  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  One  of  the  votes  recorded  in  the  town  records 
reads  as  follows  :  "  1789,  March  10,  Voted,  that  the 
Select  Men  with  the  Hon'  Jon*  Greenleaf,  Hon'  Benja- 
min Greenleaf,  Stephen  Hooper,  Micaijah  Sawyer, 
Theophilus   Bradbury,    Theophilus    Parsons   Esquii'es, 


320  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Co"  Edw.  Wigglesworth,  Cap*  David  Coates,  Rev*^  Mr. 
Murray,  Capt  William  Coombs,  Rev*^  Mr.  Spring,  Rev*^ 
Mr.  Andrews  &  Rev'^  Mr.  Bass,  be  the  Committee  for 
visiting  the  public  schools."  A  vote  similar  to  this  was 
passed  at  succeeding  town  meetings,  varied  sometimes 
with  the  instructions  to  the  committee  "  to  prepare  a 
plan  for  the  Education  of  the  Female  Children  of  the 
Town."  Female  education  seems  to  have  progressed 
slowly,  for  the  acceptance  of  the  plan  proposed  was 
postponed  from  year  to  year  until  finally  the  plan  was 
accepted,  "  so  far  as  to  hire  at  the  Town's  expense 
three  or  four  Women's  Schools  agreeably  to  said  Re- 
port." 

The  bishop's  ordinary  parochial  duties  were  often 
varied  by  the  performance  of  a  rehgious  office  of  un- 
usual interest.  This  was  the  case  when  he  administered 
the  sacrament  of  baptism  to  the  professor  of  Natural 
History  in  Harvard  University,  Professor  William  D. 
Peck.  A  writer,  contributing  certain  notes  to  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  says  of  this  event : 
"Mr.  Peck's  family  were  Congregationalists.  From 
some  cause  not  now  ascertained  he  was  not  baptized  in 
his  infancy.  In  his  ripe  years  he  gave  his  decided 
preference  to  the  discipline  and  worship  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  when  more  than  thirty  years  of  age  he 
was  baptized  by  the  late  excellent  Bishop  Bass.  The 
writer  of  this  note  was  one  of  his  chosen  witnesses  and 
can  never  lose  the  remembrance  of  the  impressive 
solemnity  with  which  the  holy  office  was  administered 
nor  the  pious  humility  with  which  it  was  received."  ^ 
^  Collections  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  second  series,  vol.  x.  p.  167. 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  321 

The  diocese  over  which  the  bishop  presided  was  ex- 
tensive territorially,  but  not  strong  in  the  number  of 
its  parishes.  It  included  Massachusetts,  and  Rhode 
Island,  and  New  Hampshire,  though  his  jurisdiction 
over  the  last  named  was  not  formally  recognized  until 
August,  1803,  when  it  was  voted  at  a  convention  held 
in  New  Hampshire  to  invite  Bishop  Bass  "  to  take  the 
Churches  in  this  State  under  his  pastoral  care  and  per- 
form for  them  such  Episcopal  acts  as  his  convenience 
may  permit  and  the  good  of  the  church  require." 
Vermont  was  not  included  in  the  diocese,  though  in 
1793  Bass  had  been  elected  to  the  bishopric  of  Ver- 
mont, but  since  his  consecration  was  delayed  until  1797, 
this  former  election  does  not  seem  to  have  been  recoff- 
nized  by  any  formal  assumption  of  authority. 

Bishop  Bass  attended  to  the  usual  duties  of  his  office 
with  the  diligence  that  the  cases  required.  There  is  no 
record  of  the  number  of  his  confirmations,  but  there  is 
evidence  that  he  administered  the  rite^  whenever  it 
was  necessary,  travehng  as  far  as  Bristol,  Rhode  Island, 
though  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  ever  visited  the  west- 
ern part  of  Massachusetts.  Beardsley,  in  his  "  History 
of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,"  says :  "  The  first  Bishop 
of  Massachusetts,  though  he  exercised  his  office  for  a 
period  of  six  years,  never  penetrated  to  the  cUstant 
parishes  of  his  charge  in  the  valley  of  the  Housatonic, 
and  the  whole  body  of  communicants  in  that  region 
was  therefore  left  to  welcome  the  feet  of  his  saintly 
successor  "  (Griswold).  ^ 

^  Gospel  Advocate,  No.  71. 

2  Beardsley,  History  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  vol.  ii.  p.  71. 


322  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Two  churches  at  least  were  consecrated  by  the  bishop, 
—  the  new  one  in  Dedham,  which  had  been  erected  in 
1798,  after  the  debris  of  the  old  one  had  been  removed, 
the  tower  and  building  of  which  both  had  fallen  down 
in  1797,  and  the  new  church  built  in  Newburyport  in 
1800,  the  consecration  of  which  took  place  in  October 
of  the  same  year. 

So  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  there  were  nine  ordina- 
tions during  the  episcopate  of  Bass.  They  were  as 
follows :  Theodore  Dehon,  ordained  December  24, 1797, 
and  afterwards  bishop  of  South  Carolina ;  Amos  Par- 
dee, ordained  1798 ;  Nathaniel  Bowen,  June  3,  1800, 
also  bishop  of  South  Carolina ;  Samuel  Mead,  1801 ; 
Nathan  Bowen's  brother  (?),  May  24,  1803 ;  Timothy 
HiUiard,  May  24,  1803  ;  and  Galen  Hicks  and  James 
Morss,  July  3,  1803.  In  addition  to  the  above,  there 
is  a  record  to  show  that  the  Rev.  James  Bowers  was 
ordained  by  Bishop  Bass.  The  record  indicates  the 
time  and  place  and  customs  of  such  an  Episcopal  act : 
"Rev.  James  Bowers  who  graduated  at  Cambridge, 
A.  D.  1794 ;  and  when  the  Episcopal  Convention  met 
in  Boston,  May  25,  1802,  was  ordained  in  Trinity 
Church,  Boston,  by  the  hands  of  Rev.  Bp.  Bass ;  the 
assistant  minister  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  John  Gardi- 
ner, preached  upon  the  occasion."  ^  Before  the  ordina- 
tions, the  bishop  himself  conducted  the  necessary  exam- 
inations, requiring  the  candidates  to  translate  Greek 
and  Latin  and  "  turn  the  Apostles'  Creed  into  Latin." 
The  "  letter  of  orders  "  that  he  gave  was  doubtless  like 
the  one  which  Rev.  James  Morss  received  :  — 

1  Collection  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  first  series,  vol.  viii.  p.  78. 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  323 

Edward  by  divine  permission,  Bishop  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode 
Island,  to  our  well  beloved  in  Christ  James  Morss,  clerk 
—  greeting. 

I  do  hereby  give  to  you,  in  whose  fidelity,  morals, 
learning,  sound  doctrine  &  diligence  I  fully  confide, 
license  to  preach  here  and  elsewhere  as  there  may  be 
occasion. 

Newburyport,  July  12,  1803. 

The  bishop's  official  relation  to  his  diocese  as  presid- 
ing officer  of  the  annual  conventions  was  one  which  he 
carefully  observed.  He  always  met  with  his  clergy  and 
laymen  for  mutual  counsel  and  legislation  for  the  inter- 
ests of  the  church.  These  conventions  during-  his 
episcopate  were  not  noted  for  any  legislation  of  great 
importance,  nor  the  outlining  of  vigorous  policies.  The 
parishes  were  neither  strong  nor  numerous  enough  to 
make  themselves  felt  by  special  aggressive  action.  The 
conventions  were  regularly  held,  sometimes  in  Concert 
Hall,  often  in  the  Boston  Library  in  Franklin  Place, 
and  frequently  in  Trinity  Church.  A  sermon  was 
usually  preached  by  some  one  of  the  clergy,  elected 
previously  by  the  convention,  or  acting  on  the  bishop's 
appointment,  according  to  a  vote  passed  in  1803,  "  that 
the  appointment  of  a  preacher  to  the  Convention  an- 
nually be  vested  in  the  Bishop."  The  preacher  was 
generally  thanked  for  his  "  ingenious  discourse,"  the 
phrase  of  congratulation  being  sometimes  varied,  to 
"  learned  and  excellent  discourse,"  or  "  pathetic  and 
ingenious  discourse."     The  elections  of  standing  com- 


324  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

mittee  and  delegates  to  the  General  Convention  were 
parts  of  the  regular  order  of  business.  An  important 
amendment  was  made  to  the  constitution  in  1798, 
when,  in  addition  to  the  usual  standing  committee,  a 
"  Council  of  Advice "  was  established,  composed  of 
three  clergymen.  The  duties  of  this  council  are  set 
forth  in  the  words  of  the  new  article  :  "  In  order  to 
aid  the  Bishop  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
office,  there  shall  be  annually  chosen  a  Council  of  Ad- 
vice, consisting  of  three  clergymen,  to  whom  the  Bishop 
may  resort  for  their  opinion  and  advice  whenever  he 
shall  think  it  expedient,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
such  Council  upon  such  application  to  give  him  their 
best  advice,  in  writing  if  required,  on  all  subjects  sub- 
mitted to  them  by  the  Bishop."  These  counselors 
formed  a  cabinet  or  ministry,  which  the  bishop  could 
consult  in  cases  requiring  judicious  action,  and  must 
have  been  of  great  service  to  him.  They  seem,  how- 
ever, to  have  been  more  than  mere  advisers,  for  they 
were  given  decided  power  by  the  vote  of  1801,  "  that 
no  person  shall  be  ordained  until  he  is  approbated  by 
the  Council  to  the  Bishop  and  certified  under  their 
hands." 

The  formal  "  charges "  of  the  bishop  to  his  con- 
vention were  marked  by  strong  common  sense  and 
deep  piety ;  though  only  one  of  them  has  been  pre- 
served, it  may  be  taken  as  typical  of  the  others.  In 
his  conception  of  the  importance  of  his  office  and 
the  duties  of  his  clergy,  he  showed  wisdom  and  pru- 
dence. 

Bishop  Bass  was  brought  directly  in  contact  with  the 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  325 

life  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  America  by  his  success- 
ful effort  to  be  present  at  the  General  Convention  held 
in  Philadelphia  in  June,  1799.  The  convention  was  to 
have  met  in  September,  1798,  but  this  was  prevented 
by  a  serious  outbreak  of  smallpox  in  Philadelphia  and 
other  important  towns  and  cities. 

In  June  the  meeting  was  held  without  interference. 
Bishop  Bass  was  an  active  member  of  the  House  of 
Bishops,  and  aided  in  the  passage  of  some  important 
canons.  The  bishops,  concurring  with  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  adopted  "  a  form  of  conse- 
cration of  a  church  or  chapel ;  "  also  a  prayer  was  set 
forth  to  be  used  at  the  meetings  of  the  convention. 
Bass  took  a  special  interest  in  the  repeal  of  the  fourth 
canon  of  1795,  which  gave  great  Hcense  to  a  bishop  in 
dispensing  with  certain  requirements  of  scholarship  on 
the  part  of  candidates  for  orders,  thus  permitting  ig- 
norant men  easily  to  secure  ordination.  So  much  of 
the  said  canon  was  repealed  "  as  authorises  Bishops  to 
dispense  with  any  of  the  qualifications  required  in  can- 
didates for  Holy  Orders." 

Bishop  Bass  aided  in  the  consecration  of  one  bishop. 
After  the  death  of  Bishop  Seabury,  the  Rev.  Abraham 
Jarvis  was  elected  to  succeed  him.  At  first  it  was  pro- 
posed to  consecrate  Dr.  Jarvis  in  Philadelphia,  but  the 
final  decision  being  in  favor  of  New  Haven,  the  ser- 
vice took  place  in  that  city  on  October  18,  1797.  The 
consecrating  bishops  were  Bishop  White,  Bishops  Pro- 
voost  and  Bass,  —  making  a  beautiful  illustration  of  the 
united  church  in  the  old  diocese  of  Bishop  Seabury. 
Rev.  Dr.  WilHam  Smith,  who  had  taken  charge  of  St. 


326  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

Paul's  Church,  Norwalk,  preached  the  sermon.  An 
address  of  thanks  was  prepared  by  the  standmg  com- 
mittee and  presented  to  the  consecrating  bishops,  with 
"  a  gratuity  for  defraying  the  expenses." 

During  Bishop  Bass's  short  episcopate,  it  being  six 
years  in  all,  he  performed  faithfully  a  few  of  all  the 
acts  incident  to  such  an  of&ce.  He  was  the  first  bishop 
of  a  small  diocese,  and,  therefore,  his  acts  were  only 
representative  of  what  a  bishop  would  have  to  do  in  a 
larger  diocese,  but  they  were  of  double  significance 
because  of  their  uncommonness.  He  confirmed,  or- 
dained, consecrated  churches,  attended  conventions,  and 
assisted  in  consecrating  a  bishop,  thus  exercising  the 
whole  round  of  Episcopal  functions.  His  greatest  wis- 
dom was  shown  in  the  temper  and  spirit  with  which  he 
bore  himself  in  his  diocese.  He  recognized  that  a 
bishop  in  the  Commonwealth  was  an  anomaly,  a  person 
reprobated  and  feared ;  and  unless  he  was  judicious  in 
his  words  and  deeds,  he  and  his  church  would  receive 
ever  greater  condemnation  at  the  hands  of  the  people. 
His  poHcy,  therefore,  was  one  of  concihation.  He 
wanted  the  Puritans  to  see  that  a  bishop  was  a  spiritual 
head  of  his  diocese,  not  an  arrogant  usurper  of  author- 
ity. He  might  have  made  himself  obnoxious  by  a 
proud  assumption  of  power,  and  constant  criticism  of 
his  opponents,  but,  instead,  he  acted  with  great  humility 
and  removed  the  popular  apprehension.  The  character 
of  the  episcopate  of  Bishop  Bass  was  suited  exactly  to 
the  conditions  of  the  time ;  and  the  old  man,  by  the 
simplicity  and  quietness  of  his  methods,  won  the  hearts 
of  many  who   were  ready  to  be  his  violent  enemies. 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  327 

Valuable  testimony  as  to  the  impression  made  by  the 
bishop  on  the  religious  life  of  New  England  is  given  by 
Dr.  Alden  Bradford,  who  says  of  him :  "  Dr.  Bass  was 
a  good  scholar  and  a  man  of  great  moral  worth.  In 
his  deportment  he  exhibited  much  mildness  and  benevo- 
lence, as  well  as  charity  for  those  of  the  Congregational 
order.  He  assumed  no  new  authority,  and  claimed  no 
greater  power  after  he  was  Bishop  than  before,  and 
therefore  was  highly  respected  in  this  higher  office. 
His  character  was  that  of  an  apostohc  Bishop  as  de- 
scribed by  St.  Paul."  ^  Bishop  Bass  had  as  his  ideal 
the  "  apostohc  Bishop,"  and  in  his  humble  way  he  may 
be  said  to  have  realized  in  some  measure  the  ideal  set 
before  him. 

The  bishop's  life  as  a  parish  minister  reached  a  very 
fitting  cKmax  in  the  erection  and  consecration  of  a  new 
church  building  in  Newburyport.  His  parishioners 
entered  into  the  new  project  with  enthusiasm,  contri- 
buting enough  money  to  carry  out  the  undertaking 
easily.  The  list  of  subscribers  to  the  building  fund 
shows  that  all  classes  in  the  community  were  repre- 
sented :  — 

SUBSCRIBERS   TO   THE   ERECTION   OF   THE   NEW   CHURCH. 

Edward  Rand,  William  Farris,  Joseph  Kent,  Tristram 
Coffin,  Samuel  Allyne  Otis,  Abraham  Jackson,  James 
Prince,  Joseph  Cutler,  Samuel  Cutler,  Nicholas  Tracy, 
William  Cutler,  Isaac  Adams,  William  Woart,  Benja- 
min Balch,  WilHam  Welstead  Prout,  John  Pettingal, 
Abner  Wood,  William  Wyer,  Jr.,  William  Moreland, 

1  Updike,  Narragansett  Church,  p.  307. 


328  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

merchants  ;  Edward  Bass,  Doctor  in  Divinity  ;  Edward 
Bass,  Jr.,  painter ;  George  Jenkins,  mariner ;  Charles 
Jackson,  gentleman ;  Abraham  Gallishan,  sailmaker ; 
Thomas  Thomas,  gentleman ;  Joseph  Nowell,  tallow 
chandler ;  Thomas  Packer,  teamster ;  Thomas  Hooper, 
gentleman  ;  Oilman  Frothingham,  leather  dresser ;  Na- 
thaniel Ash,  teamster ;  John  Akerman,  rope-maker ; 
Richard  Peters,  cooper ;  Humphrey  Morse,  yeoman ; 
Dudley  Atkins  Tyng,  Esq.,  Stephen  Hooper,  Esq., 
Stephen  Toppan,  housewright ;  Jacob  Little,  merchant ; 
Amos  Atkinson,  merchant ;  Joseph  Sawyer,  husband- 
man J  Joseph  Laughton,  of  Boston. 

The  corner  stone  was  laid  with  Masonic  ceremonies 
on  May  22,  1800.  To  this  ceremony  the  neighboring 
clergy,  including  those  of  other  denominations,  were 
invited,  especially  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bentley,  of  Salem,  he 
receiving  a  personal  invitation  from  Mr.  Dudley  A. 
Tyng. 

TO   REV.   DR.   BENTLEY. 

Newburyport,  May  17, 1800. 
Rev  &  Dear  Sir,  —  Possibly  you  may  know  that 
the  little  handful  of  EpiscopaHans  here  are  building  a 
new  church  for  our  good  friend  D''  Bass.  The  excel- 
lent* old  Gentleman  is  so  deHghted  with  the  thing  that 
he  must  needs  have  a  ceremony  in  laying  the  corner- 
stone. This  ceremony  is  to  be  performed  by  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Massachusetts  on  Thursday  next.  I  know 
your  affection  for  the  craft  &  I  avail  myself  of  it  to 
support  my  request  that  you  will  join  us  in  the  busi- 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  329 

ness,  and  particularly  that  you  wiU  make  your  quarters 
at  my  house.  .  .  . 

I  am,  Dear  Sir,  &c 

Dudley  A.  Tyng.^ 

A  characteristic  note  from  the  bishop  to  Dr.  Bentley 
indicates  the  pleasant  relationship  existing  between 
them :  — 

TO   REV.    DR.    BENTLEY. 

Newburyport,  May  31,  1800, 

My  dear  Sir,  —  Your  heart  is  benevolent,  your 
head  is  liberal,  as  your  memory  may  be  treacherous,  I 
take  the  liberty  to  remind  you  of  the  tobacco. 

Yours, 

Edward  Bass.^ 

A  newspaper  report  of  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone of  St.  Paul's  Church  gives  a  glimpse  of  the  way 
in  which  such  a  ceremony  was  conducted  in  the  early 
part  of  the  century  :  — 

"Divine  service  was  performed  by  Bishop  Bass  in 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church ;  thence  a  procession 
passed  to  the  site  of  the  new  Church,  entering  under  a 
triumphal  arch,  on  which  was  written  in  letters  of  gold, 
Holiness  to  the  LordJ^  An  address  was  deUvered  by 
Dr.  Bentley,  who  took  occasion  to  emphasize  the  fact, 
that  they  were  all  assembled  "to  assist  a  Primitive 
Bishop  in  the  foundation  of  a  church  whose  commu- 

*  J.  J.  Currier,  Ould  Newbury,  p.  411. 
»  Ibid.,  p.  413. 


330  LIEE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

nion  can  no  longer  provoke  a  fear,  and  which  was  the 
glory  of  the  Reformation." 

The  church  was  consecrated  on  October  8,  1800,  the 
parish  having  used  as  its  house  of  worship,  during  the 
erection  of  its  own  building,  the  Second  Presbyterian 
meeting-house ;  for  which  act  of  kindness  on  the  part 
of  the  Presbyterians,  "  the  Episcopal  Church  presented 
to  that  Society  a  handsome  piece  of  plate."  ^ 

The  next  event  of  public  interest  in  the  life  of  the 
bishop  was  his  selection  as  preacher  to  the  Merrimac 
Humane  Society,  which  held  its  meeting  in  Newbury- 
port  on  September  6, 1803.  This  society  was  organized 
for  the  important  object  of  rescuing  those  who  were  in 
danger  of  being  drowned,  and  of  circulating  informa- 
tion concerning  the  best  way  of  resuscitating  those  who 
had  been  under  water  for  some  minutes.  It  provided, 
in  convenient  places,  signal  lights,  grappling  irons,  "  in- 
flators  and  fumegants,"  and  had  built  three  Httle  huts 
on  Plum  Island  for  shipwrecked  sailors.  The  good 
bishop  selected  an  appropriate  text  for  his  sermon  from 
St.  Luke  ix.  56,  "  The  Son  of  Man  is  not  come  to 
destroy  men's  lives,  but  to  save  them  ; "  and  began  by 
ingeniously  remarking  that,  "  besides  healing  the  sick 
how  many  he  preserved  from  perishing  by  water  we 
have  no  direct  information.  Of  this,  however,  we  are 
certain,  that  when  his  disciples  were  in  immediate 
danger  of  being  drowned  in  consequence  of  a  violent 
tempest,  they  awoke  their  Master,  saying,  *  Lord,  save 
us,  we  perish  ! '  Upon  which  he  rebuked  the  winds 
and  the  sea." 

^  Gushing,  Newburyport,  p.  47. 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  331 

There  are  other  passages  from  the  sermon  which  are 
worth  quoting,  as  being  of  general  interest,  and  show- 
ing his  style  of  preaching :  — 

Although  he  (Jesus)  met  with  the  most  ungrateful 
treatment,  notwithstanding  his  kind  attention  to  their 
wants,  yet  did  he  never  exert  his  power  in  their  punish- 
ment or  destruction. 

But  whatever  may  be  the  difference  of  opinion  among 
us  with  respect  to  religion,  or  poHtics,  we  should  con- 
sider it  as  our  indispensable  duty,  both  as  men  and  as 
Christians,  never  to  abate  of  our  charity  and  good  will 
towards  each  other. 

Another  thing  which  tends  to  injure  our  kind  affec- 
tions and  brotherly  love  is  the  prevalence  of  party 
spirit  either  with  respect  to  religion  or  politics,  —  a 
spirit  which  generally  exists  in  all  free  states,  and 
which,  particularly  with  regard  to  politics,  is  at  present 
much  too  prevalent  in  various  parts  of  this  otherwise 
happy  country.  The  consequences  of  it  are  extremely 
uncomfortable ;  particularly  as  it  destroys,  when  pre- 
vailing to  a  high  degree,  all  good  neighborhood  and 
sociability,  as  well  as  the  peace  of  our  own  minds,  by 
introducing  constant  vexations  and  disquietudes,  by 
exciting  the  most  troublesome  passions  and  by  blowing 
up  the  coals  of  strife  and  contention.  It  is  apt  to 
injure  our  reputation,  by  occasioning  mutual  propaga- 
tion of  slander  ;  by  causing  the  fairest  actions  to  be 
misrepresented,  and  by  rendering  it  almost  impossible 


332  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

for  any  man  with  liis  utmost  endeavors,  to  give  general 
satisfaction,  or  to  gain  any  approbation  beyond  the 
limits  of  his  own  party. 

Spare  your  superfluities  or  even  your  conveniences. 

Shall  I  exert  myself  or  make  any  unusual  efforts  to 
preserve  the  hfe  or  health  of  my  neighbor,  when  I 
have  enough  to  do  to  take  care  of  my  own  ?  This  de- 
structive despotism,  if  indulged,  and  no  care  taken 
to  correct  it  by  benevolent  and  human  consideration, 
will,  in  time,  make  us  absolutely  unsocial. 

There  is  an  exquisite  pleasure  and  dehght,  of  which 
every  man  of  feeling  is  sensible,  in  doing  good  to  his 
fellow-creatures. 

These  words  have  a  peculiar  interest,  because  they 
are  the  last  ever  uttered  in  public  by  Bishop  Bass ;  and 
the  exhortation  to  charity  and  brotherly  love  are  fitting 
messages  to  succeeding  generations,  as  the  last  words 
of  the  first  bishop  of  Massachusetts.  The  sermon  was 
preached  on  Tuesday,  September  6,  and  on  Saturday, 
September  10,  1803,  he  laid  down  the  burden  of  life. 
The  end  came  suddenly,  after  two  days  only  of  sick- 
ness. The  best  account  of  his  death  is  given  in  the 
unpublished  notes  of  young  James  Morss,  who  had 
been  studying  under  him  and  assisting  him  in  the 
services :  — 

"He  died  suddenly  on  Saturday  evening,"  says 
Morss,  "  while  he  was  making  preparation  for  a  visit 
to  Portland  for  the  purpose  of  consecrating  the  new 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  333 

Church  in  that  place,  and  ordaining  Mr.  HiUiard,  pastor- 
elect.  I  saw  him  on  Saturday ;  and  he  finding  himself 
too  sick  to  entertain  a  hope  of  being  able  to  preach  on 
the  ensuing  Sunday  expressed  much  anxiety  how  I 
should  be  able  to  perform  the  whole  service  without 
him  as  I  had  never  attempted  it  before.  But  he  died 
before  the  day  arrived  &  I  read  two  sermons  selected 
by  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  Esq.  from  D^  Sam.  Clark.  His 
decease  took  place  10*''  Sept.  1803  in  76  year  of  his  age 
and  51  of  his  ministry  as  Rector  of  the  Church.  .  .  . 
He  was  buried  on  Tuesday  13  of  Sept.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Gardiner  of  Boston  read  the  first  part  of  the  burial 
service  at  the  grave.  The  pall  was  supported  by  D' 
Parker,  Rev.  Mr.  Gardiner,  Rev*^  Mr.  Willard  of  Ports- 
mouth, Rev.  Mr.  Bowers  of  Marblehead,  Rev.  Mr. 
Hicks  and  myself." 

At  the  funeral  services  the  toUing  of  the  bells,  and 
the  reverent  crowd  of  citizens  who  had  come  to  show 
their  respect  for  the  bishop,  were  an  indication  of  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held.  The  strong^  words  of  Dr. 
Parker  in  his  funeral  sermon  doubtless  found  a  genuine 
response  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  :  — 

"  Few  men  have  maintained  through  so  long  a  period, 
a  character  so  entirely  conformed  to  Christian  standards, 
as  did  this  venerable  prelate.  It  is  a  tribute  due  to  his 
memory,  and  society  claims  of  us,  that  we  record  some 
faint  sketch  of  his  life  and  virtues. 

"  Bishop  Bass  was  a  sound  divine,  a  critical  scholar, 
an  accomplished  gentleman,  and  an  exemplary  Chris- 
tian. His  manners  were  polished,  his  disposition  amia- 
ble, his  temper  mild,  his  conversation  improving,  his 


334  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

benevolence  warm,  his  piety  uniform,  his  charity  unlim- 
ited. For  more  than  fifty  years  he  sacredly  devoted  all 
his  talents  to  his  great  Lord  and  Master,  in  the  affec- 
tionate and  diligent  cultivation  of  that  portion  of  the 
Gospel  vineyard  committed  to  his  care.  Seriously  im- 
pressed with  a  sense  of  the  duties  of  his  station,  nothing 
short  of  necessity  formed  in  his  mind  an  apology  for 
the  omission  of  them.  In  his  pubUc  discourses  he 
aimed  at  plainness  and  usefulness.  From  subjects  the 
least  connected  with  practical  topics  he  rarely  failed 
to  draw  something  calculated  to  mend  the  hearts  or 
manners  of  his  hearers. 

"  He  had  nothing  of  that  candor  which  looks  with 
equal  indifference  on  all  opinions.  With  the  most 
scrupulous  respect  for  the  riglits  of  conscience  and  of 
private  judgment  in  others,  he  united  a  firm  and  un- 
shaken adherence  to  that  system  of  Christian  doctrine 
and  discipline  which  he  had  adopted  from  conviction. 
In  his  devotions  he  led  his  people  with  the  most  win- 
ning example  of  piety,  chastised  in  its  manner  with  the 
most  temperate  gravity,  never  relaxing  into  formality, 
nor  strained  into  enthusiasm.  Although  from  prin- 
ciple, as  well  as  from  habit,  he  was  zealously  attached 
to  the  forms  prescribed  by  the  Church,  yet,  on  extraor- 
dinary occasions,  he  exhibited  in  his  devotional  compo- 
sitions a  talent  rarely  equaled,  and  never  excelled,  by 
those  whose  mode  of  worship  authorizes  and  requires 
extemporaneous  addresses  to  the  Deity. 

"  In  private  Hf e.  Dr.  Bass  was  uniformly  amiable  and 
respectable,  and  thus  inspired  all  his  associates  with 
affection  and  reverence. 


THE  EPISCOPATE  OF  BISHOP  BASS.  335 

'^  But  it  was  in  the  elevated  station  of  a  diocesan  that 
the  character  of  this  excellent  man  was  most  fully  dis- 
played. Anxious  above  all  things  to  approve  himself 
to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  his  humility  grew 
with  the  honors  conferred  upon  him  by  his  brethren. 
So  far  was  he  from  claiming  the  distinctions  appertain- 
ing to  his  rank,  that  he  did  not  receive  them  without 
sensible  pain,  and  constantly  exhibited  a  winning  ex- 
ample of  meekness  and  gentleness,  which  gave  lustre  to 
all  his  accomplishments  and  to  all  his  virtues.  Though 
at  some  periods  of  his  life  he  was  severely  tried,  he 
maintained  a  moderation  and  forbearance  which  checked 
the  rage  of  party  and  fortified  him  against  sufferings 
which  a  mind  less  correct  must  have  undergfone  in  simi- 
lar  situations. 

"  Blest  by  nature  with  a  vigorous  constitution,  which 
he  sedulously  preserved  by  temperance  and  exercise,  he 
enjoyed  an  uncommon  share  of  health  through  the 
greatest  part  of  his  life.  He  died,  as  he  had  lived,  full 
of  piety,  resignation,  and  humility,  and  is  doubtless 
now  receiving  the  rewards  of  a  long  and  diligent  life 
spent  in  the  services  of  God  and  his  fellow  men." 

At  a  later  date  Dr.  Morss  took  occasion  to  pay  a 
tribute  to  his  old  friend  and  bishop  in  the  following 
words  :  — 

"His  amiable  disposition,  unassuming  manners  and 
catholic  views  endeared  him  to  his  parishioners,  and 
secured  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  denominations. 
To  uncommon  equanimity  of  temper  it  was  probably 
owing  that  he  was  enabled  to  pass  undisturbed  through 


336  LIFE  OF  BISHOP  BASS. 

scenes  unusually  vexatious  and  embarrassing  ;  and  to 
look  with  composure  on  the  fierce  conflicts  of  theologi- 
cal and  political  warfare.  There  was  a  dryness  and 
piquancy  in  his  wit,  which,  though  it  might  occasionally 
wound,  never  offended ;  and  many  of  his  pointed  and 
pithy  remarks  are  preserved  and  repeated  at  this  day. 
He  was  grave,  courteous  and  gentlemanly  in  his  man- 
ners, dignified  in  his  person,  and  in  every  respect  the 
excellent  pattern  of  a  parish  priest.  He  was  ever  the 
welcome  guest  at  the  fireside,  free  and  famihar  with  all 
classes,  —  soothing  the  griefs  of  the  afflicted,  easy  of 
access  to  all  and  able  in  counsel  to  those  who  were  in 
trouble.  If  there  was  any  supposed  deficiency  in  ar- 
dour and  enterprize,  it  was  amply  compensated  by 
soundness  of  judgment  and  promptness  and  decision  in 
action."  ^ 

Bishop  Bass  laid  wisely  the  foundations  upon  which 
others  have  built.  Throughout  a  long  life  he  gave 
himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  of  his  church  with 
constancy  and  zeal.  His  was  the  day  of  small  things, 
but  by  his  faithfulness  he  made  possible  the  larger 
growth  of  his  church  and  the  spread  of  Christianity 
throughout  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

1  James  Moras,  Succinct  History  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  Newburyport, 
pp.  33,  34. 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


Aberdeen,  238. 

"  A  Brief  Account,"  167. 

"  A  Candid  Examination,"  80. 

"A  Conipleat  View  of  Episcopacy," 
83. 

Adams,  Mr.,  147. 

Adams,  Brooks,  31. 

Adams,  Isaac,  327. 

Adams,  John,  132. 

Adams,  Samuel,  9G,  98. 

"  A  Dissent  Fully  Justified,"  84,  86. 

"  Agnes  Surriage,"  62. 

Akerman,  John,  328. 

Alden,  John,  123. 

Alden,  Ruth,  1. 

Alston,  John,  183. 

America,  Bishops  in,  94;  puritans  in, 
95  ;  missions  in,  190  ;  revenue  raised 
in,  97  ;  tax  upon,   97  ;  Bishops  for, 
98,  99  ;  Episcopal  Church  in,   153 
soldiers  of,  165  ;  confusions  in,  168 
Kevolution  in,  182  ;  troubles  in,  184 
contest  .with,  186;  Congress  in,  189. 

American  Bishops,  96  ;  churches,  101 
native  born,    1 14  ;  army,  201 ;  ser- 
mon in  behalf  of  army  of,  206. 

Amesbury,  50,  60,  71,  72,  73,  74,  75, 
76,  81,  103  ;  church  building  in,  63  ; 
request  from,  68  ;  letter  concerning, 
from  Bass  and  Browne,  70. 

Amory,  Thomas  C,  112. 

Anabaptists,  44,  73,  75. 

Andrews,  Rev.  Mr.,  320. 

Andrews,  William,  236. 

Audros,  Governor,  25. 

Annapolis.  Nova  Scotia,  218. 

Annis,  Joseph,  34. 

Antepedo-baptists,  64. 

"A  Pickle  for  the  Knowing  Ones," 
317. 

"A  Plea  for  the  Non-Conformists," 
84,  85. 

"  Apostles'  Creed,"  249,  252. 

Apthorp,  Charles,  55. 

Apthorp,  Rev.  East,  78,  79,  80,  81,  89. 


"  A  Roland  for  yonr  Oliver,"  258. 

Ash,  Nathaniel,  328. 

"  A  Scrupulous  Conscience,"  84. 

Aston,  Thonuis,  110. 

"  A  Sure  Guide  to  Hell,"  86. 

"Athanasian   Creed,"   240,   244,  249, 

251,  261. 
Atkins,  112. 

Atkins,  Mr.,  inspection  of  Bass  by,  14. 
Atkins,    Dudlcv,  243,  248,   269,    273, 

284,  285,  2.S'J,  290. 
Atkins,  Henry,  183. 
Atkins,  William,  135. 
Atkinson,  Amos,  328. 

Bacon,  Rev.  Jacob,  8. 

Badger,  Rev.  Moses,  102,  221,  222. 

Bailey,  Rev.  Jacob,  90,  91,  118,  156, 
100,  200,  207,  211. 

Balch,  Benjamin,  118,  158,327. 

Barb,  Captain  T.,  158. 

Barbe,  W.  S.,  270. 

Barriet,  Mrs.,  116. 

Barrows,  10,  11. 

Bartlett,  John,  32,  .34,  37. 

Bartlett,  Joseph,  30. 

Bartlett,  Nathaniel,  34. 

Bartlett,  Samuel,  34. 

Bartlett,  Thomas,  34. 

Bass,  Mr.,  brother  of  Edward  Bass, 
118. 

Bass,  Edward,  consecration  of,  iii ;  ob- 
scurity of,  iii ;  general  description 
of  the  life  of,  iv  ;  heads  the  lists  of 
Bishops  of  Massachusetts,  v  ;  letters 
relating  to  consecration  of,  vi ;  de- 
scent of,  1  ;  birth  of,  3,  4  ;  parents 
of,  4 ;  boyhood  of,  4  ;  enters  Har- 
vard College,  4  ;  at  college,  5  ;  fined 
for  absence,  6  ;  studies  Greek  and 
Hebrew,  6 ;  receives  his  Master's 
Degree,  6 ;  thesis  of,  7  ;  decides  to 
become  a  minister,  7  ;  preaches  in 
Boxford,  8  ;  called  to  Maiden  and 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport,  8  ; 


340 


INDEX. 


changes  his  convictions,  9 ;  books 
read  by,  11  ;  dislike  of  Whitefield's 
methods,  18 ;  assistant  minister  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  13,  14,  15  ;  his 
jouruey  to  London,  14  ;  preaches  in 
Newbury,  10  ;  letters  of  recommen- 
dation of,  17,  18  ;  arrives  in  Eng- 
land, 19  ;  ordination  of  and  declara- 
tion  of   conformity  of,    20,  21,   22, 

23  ;  visits  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury,  23 ;    returns   to    America, 

24  ;  minister  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
29  ;  the  predecessor  of,  46  ;  successor 
of,  48  ;  elected  assistant  minister  to 
Mr.  Plant,  49  ;  resides  in  Newbury- 
port,  50 ;  appointed  successor  to  Mr. 
Plant,  50,  51  ;  salary  of,  51  ;  writes 
about  the  new  church,  52  ;  baptizes 
children  and  adults,  52  ;  epitaph  of, 
53  ;  personal  appearance  of,  53  ;  por- 
traits of,  53;  marries  Sarah  Beck, 
53  ;  salary  increased  by  parishioners, 
54 ;  sends  annual  reports  to  Eng- 
land, 56  ;  writes  concerning  the  So- 
ciety's Library,  57  ;  refers  to  preva- 
lence of  Antinomian  principles,  57 ; 
letters  to  the  Society,  58,  59,  60 ; 
preaches  at  Hopkinton  and  Ames- 
bury,  60,  62 ;  letters  about  Queen 
Anne's  Chapel,  65,  66,  67,  68 ;  let- 
ters to  the  Society,  68 ;  writes,  with 
Mr.   Browne,   about  Amesbury,  69, 

70  ;  refers  to  Queen  Anne's  Chapel, 

71  ;  concerning  Methodism,  72  ;  let- 
ters to  Kev.  Dr.  Burton,  73,  74,  75, 
76  ;  on  attacks  of  Dr.  Mayhew,  82  ; 
requests  books  and  pamphlets,  83, 
85 ;  present  at  Convention,  88  ;  signs 
request  for  Bishops,  89,  90,  91  ; 
foresees  the  Revolution,  95  ;  signs 
a  statement  concerning  the  churches 
in  Massachusetts,  102  ;  efforts  of,  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  104  ;  parish  votes 
to  give  him  loose  money  in  the  col- 
lection, 116;  his  pews.  116;  takes 
up  a  collection  for  charity,  117  ;  re- 
cords his  official  acts,  118  ;  hospi- 
tality of,  118  ;  brother  of,  119  ;  con- 
versation of,  119  ;  a  pallbearer  at 
Wliitefield's  funeral,  120 ;  preaches 
in  Narragansett,  120 ;  preaches  to 
the  Masons  and  writes  to  Abram 
Savage,  121 ;  preaches  in  King's 
Chapel,  122  ;  preaches  funeral  ser- 
mon of  Rev.  Arthur  Browne,  122  ; 
as  a  preacher,  123  ;  record  of,  in  So- 
ciety's Journal,  125  ;  requests  pam- 
phlets and  recommends  John  Bass, 
125;  -writes  to  Dr.  Burton  about 


a  bell,  125  ;  visits  New  Hampshire 
and  writes  to  the  Society,  128  ;  letter 
to  Dr.  Ilind,  129  ;  letter  of,  concern- 
ing the  Revolution,  130,  136 ;  re- 
mains at  St.  Paul's  Church,  140; 
Parker  studies  under,  141 ;  misfor- 
tune of,  148 ;  makes  changes  in 
prayer  -  book,  153 ;  American  and 
English  opinions  concerning  his  atti- 
tude during  the  Revolution,  154 ; 
receives  a  letter  from  his  Wardens 
and  Vestry,  154  ;  replies  to  Wardens 
and  Vestry,  155  ;  explanation  of  his 
attitude  and  persecution  of,  156 ; 
dismissed  by  the  Society,  157  ;  sub- 
scription for  relief  of,  158 ;  con- 
troversy concerning,  158 ;  charges 
against,  159  ;  charges  refuted,  160  ; 
writes  about  his  duties  during  Revo- 
lution, 161  ;  writes  concerning  Dr. 
Walter's  letter,  152 ;  loss  of  his 
salary,  and  writes  to  Dr.  Morice, 
153 ;  letter  to  Samuel  Hale,  165 ; 
letter  to  Mr.  Weeks,  166 ;  writes 
"A  Brief  Account,"  167,  168;  Dr. 
Morss  writes  of,  169 ;  preaches  be- 
fore St.  John's  Lodge,  170  ;  quota- 
tions from  a  sermon  of,  171,  172  ; 
describes  "  the  dark  day,"  173,  174  ; 
helps  in  organizing  the  church  in 
Massachusetts,  174  ;  documents  con- 
cerning, 175 ;  does  not  read  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  176 ; 
refutes  the  charges,  177  ;  asks  to 
know  his  accusers,  178 ;  Parker  de- 
nies charges  against,  179  ;  testimony 
of  J.  Wentworth,  180 ;  certificates 
concerning,  181,  182,  183  ;  blamed 
by  Loyalists,  184 ;  unmolested,  185 ; 
the  case  of,  presented  by  Samuel 
Hale,  186 ;  reasons  for  withdrawing 
the  salary  of,  189  ;  state  of  the  evi- 
dence against,  190  ;  observations  on 
case  of,  191,  192  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Clark 
writes  concerning,  193-196 ;  letter 
of  Rev.  Williana  Walter  concerning, 
196-198,  199 ;  leaves  out  prayers 
for  the  King,  199 ;  his  mission  con- 
sidered vacant,  200  ;  long  service  in 
the  Society,  202  ;  extracts  from  Jour- 
nal of  the  Society  concerning,  and 
bills  not  accepted,  203  ;  marries  forty 
couples,  204  ;  acquaintance  with 
Loyalists,  205  ;  testimony  as  to  his 
character,  207-210 ;  reproached  for 
a  Tory,  212  ;  his  case  again  consid- 
ered, 213 ;  Society  dismisses  his  case, 
214 ;  prominent  in  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  Church,  217 ;  letter  to 


INDEX. 


341 


Parker,  219-221  ;  attencls  a  Con- 
vention, 222  ;  baptizes  fourteen  per- 
sons, 2  52  ;  requests  Pai-ker  to  go 
to  Middletown,  2;38  ;  writes  to  Par- 
ker, 2;>l)-24l  ;  influences  his  lay- 
men, 242 ;  attends  a  Convention  in 
Boston,  and  elected  its  President, 
249 ;  appointed  on  a  Committee  to 
form  a  collect,  251  ;  sig'ns  a  protest 
against  King's  Chapel,  2r)0-258;  ac- 
cepts Bishop  Seabury's  consecration, 
2t)l,  2(52;  elected  Bishop,  2(ir)-'J08 ; 
no  laymen  present  at  the  election, 
268 ;  receives  a  degree  from  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  290  ;  reso- 
lutions concerning-  his  election,  2i)()- 
292 ;  union  of  the  Church  effected 
by  the  election  of,  293 ;  makes  a 
draft  of  the  Constitution,  295  ;  sec- 
ond election  of,  296,  297  ;  letter  to 
the  Convention,  298  ;  correspondence 
eoncei-ning'  his  Consecration,  299 ; 
testimonials  of,  302  ;  requests  to  con- 
secrate, 304  ;  additional  testimonials, 
306,  307  ;  consecration  of,  308  ;  con- 
secration papers  of,  309,  310 ;  re- 
turns to  Boston,  310;  addresses  the 
Convention  in  Boston,  312,  313  ;  re- 
turns to  his  Parish,  314;  library 
of,  315 ;  conversation  of,  316  ;  the 
friends  of,  317  ;  second  marriage  of, 
317  ;  dress  of,  318 ;  has  a  dispute 
■with  a  neighbor,  interest  in  town 
affairs  and  serves  on  School  Com- 
mittee, 319 ;  makes  a  prayer  at  the 
Washington  Memorial  iService,  319  ; 
baptizes  Professor  Peck,  320 ;  the 
extent  of  the  Diocese  of,  331 ; 
elected  Bishop  of  New  Hampshire 
and  Vermont,  321 ;  consecrates  two 
Churches  ;  ordains  ministers,  322  ; 
letter  of  Orders  given  by,  323  ;  pre- 
sides at  Annual  Convention,  323 ; 
attends  a  General  Convention,  and 
consecrates  Bishop  Jarvis,  325  ; 
Episcopal  acts  of,  326  ;  builds  a  new 
church  and  subscribes  to  its  erection, 
327  ;  letter  to  Dr.  Bentley,  329 ;  lays 
the  Corner  Stone  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  329 ;  consecrates  St.  Paul's 
Church  and  preaches  before  the 
Merrimae  Humane  Society,  330  ;  last 
public  address  of,  332 ;  death  of, 
332  ;  burial  of,  333  ;  his  funeral  ser- 
mon by  Dr.  Parker,  333-335  ;  esti- 
mate of,  by  Morss,  336. 

Bass,  Edward,  Jr.,  328. 

Bass,  Elizabeth,  3. 

Bass,  John,  1,  125. 


Bass,  Joseph,  3. 

Bass,  Samuel,  1,  2. 

Bayley,  34,  37. 

Bearcroft,  10 ;  receives  letter  from 
Bass,  58,  59,  (iO,  67,  OH. 

Beck,  Sarah,  53,  .317. 

Belcher,  Governor,  105. 

Belcher,  Rev.  Mr.,  40,  42. 

Belknap,  Dr.,  258. 

Belzebub,  8(),  87. 

Bentley,  Rev.  Dr.,  315,  328,  329. 

Bernard,  Governor,  66,  67. 

Berwick,  174. 

Blackwell,  Robert,  190,  196,  203. 

Blaxton,  Rev.  William,  25. 

Bollan,  William,  111. 

Boston,  87,  98,  Town  hall  of,  25  ;  per- 
secutions in,  27  ;  clergy  of,  89,  93  ; 
town  meeting  in,  97  ;  churches  in, 
102 ;  contributions  from,  103  ;  first 
newspaper  in.  111;  Sunday  services, 
113  ;  Episcopal  Charitable  Society, 
117  ;  Convention  held  in,  242. 

Borland,  Dr.  Francis,  249. 

Bours,  John,  249. 

Bowden,  Benjamin,  236. 

Bowditch,  Joseph,  277. 

Bowen,  Edward,  234,  236. 

Bowen,  Nathaniel,  322. 

Bowers,  Rev.  James,  322,  333. 

Bowman,  John,  4. 

Boxford,  8,  29. 

Bradbury,  Theophilus,  319. 

Bradford,  Alden,  327. 

Bradford,  Bishop,  83. 

Bradford,  William,  2,  3. 

Bradley,  William,  297. 

Braintree,  1,  2,  28,  102,  113,  139,  147, 
219,  274. 

Brattle,  Thomas,  55. 

Bridges,  John,  30,  32,  33,  43,  45. 

Bridge  water,  113,  147,  249,  274. 

Brimmer,  112. 

Bristol,  219,  249,  321. 

British  Government,  77,  82,  96;  loy- 
alty to,  114;  legislation  of,  131; 
Bass  omits  prayers  for,  155 ;  Bass 
identified  with,  157 ;  Bass's  loyalty 
to,  175  ;  disaffection  to,  195. 

Brockwell,  Rev.  Charles,  12,  16. 

Brown,  1 12. 

Brown,  Deacon  Joshua,  30,  32,  34,  37, 
38. 

Brown,  Samuel,  25,  26. 

Brown,  Thomas,  34,  42. 

Brown,  Tristram,  34. 

Browne,  Rev.  Arthur,  70,  71,  102;  re- 
marks on  Dr.  Mayhew,  80 ;  funeral 
of,  122 ;  recommends  John  Bass,  125. 


342 


INDEX. 


Browne,  Daniel,  9,  18. 

Browne,  Rev.  Mam.,  102. 

Bulfincli,  Thomas,  229,  231,  251. 

Bull,  117. 

Bunch  of  Grapes,  131. 

Bunker  Hill,  152. 

Burgoyne,  General,  148,  152,  218. 

Burhans,  Rev.  Daniel,  296. 

Burlington,  99. 

Burnett,  11. 

Burton,  Rev.  Dr.,  68,  71,  76,  126. 

Butler,  Bishop,  94,  97,  99;    idea  of 

American  Bishops,  100. 
Byfield,  8. 

Byles,  Mather,  Jr.,  113, 114, 125,135. 
Byles,  Mather,  Sr.,  114,  315. 
Bynner's  "  Agnes  Surriage,"  62. 

Calamy,  Dr.  Benjamin,  84. 

Cambridge,  8,  74,  79,  81,  89,  103,  113, 
148,  178,  322. 

Cambridge,  England,  85. 

Campbell,  111. 

Caner,  Dr.  Henry,  letter  of,  52  ;  writes 
"  A  Candid  Examination,"  80 ;  writes 
to  the  Archbishop,  82  ;  91,  95,  102, 
114,   125,    133  ;    writes  for   instruc- 
tions, 135  ;  leaves  Boston,  138 ;  151 
makes   charges   against  Bass,   159 
preaches    at   the    Convention,    188 
representations  of,  190  ;  writes  about 
Bass,  191  ;  letters,  192,  203. 

Canterbury,  Archbishop  of,  80,  191, 
292. 

Casco  Bay,  174. 

Caves  "  Historia  Literaria  Ecelesise," 
11. 

Chamblet,  Samuel,  236. 

Chandler,  Rev.  Mr.,  120. 

Charles  I.,  27. 

Chauncy,  Dr.  Charles,  83,  315. 

Chester,  Captain,  137. 

Chevy  Chase,  54. 

Childwell,  234. 

Chillings  worth,  11. 

Christ  Church,  Boston,  a  refuge  for 
dissenters,  12  ;  87  ;  divisions  in,  89  ; 
founded,  102  ;  plans  of,  103  ;  decla- 
ration in,  104 ;  communion  service 
of,  105  ;  bells  of,  106  ;  liberality  to- 
wards, 108;  111;  113,  114;  signal 
lantern  in,  135  ;  144,  148,  222,  258, 
274,  278,  296. 

Christ  Church,  Braintree,  102. 

Christ  Church,  Cambridge,  78,  103, 
113,  137. 

Christ  Church,  Dedham,  297. 

Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  216,  338. 

Christ  Church,  Quincy,  297. 


Church  of  England,  13,  14 ;  in  Massa- 
chusetts, 25  ;  preferences  for,  30 ; 
worship  of,  33  ;  orthodoxy  of,  34 ; 
increase  of,  39 ;  ministers  of,  42  ; 
attempts  to  extirpate,  43  ;  treatment 
of  its  missionaries,  46 ;  slaves  join- 
ing, 61 ;  ministers  of,  and  Puritans, 
63  ;  professors  of,  68  ;  worship  of, 
69  ;  prejudices  against,  72  ;  savages 
becoming  members  of,  78  ;  Mayhew 
against,  79  ;  attacks  upon,  79 ;  the 
motives  of,  80,  81 ;  attacks  against, 
82  ;  ceremonies  of,  84 ;  like  Church 
of  Rome,  85 ;  dissent  from, 
policy  of,  92  ;  95  ;  on  the  subject  of 
Bishops,  99  ;  congregations  of,  100 
love  for,  112  ;  certificate  of  member- 
ship in,  115 ;  taxes  paid  to,  116 
Whitefield  difPers  from,  119  ;  Tory- 
ism of,  124 ;  attachment  to  govern- 
ment of,  128  ;  Tories  in,  134 ;  clergy 
of,  136  ;  140  ;  in  Holderness,  161 ; 
steadiness  of  members,  180 ;  diffi- 
culties of  the  clergy,  193 ;  consti- 
tution of,  195  ;  members  in  New 
Hampshire,  204  ;  the  former  parishes 
of,  215  ;  225  ;  doctrines  of,  238  ;  suc- 
cession from,  263. 

Clapp,  Noah,  4. 

Claremont,  204. 

Clarendon,  Earl  of,  11. 

Clark,  George,  297,  308. 

Clark,  Rev.  William,  115, 124, 136, 139, 
153,  190, 193,  194. 

Clark,  Dr.  Samuel,  333. 

Clarke,  11. 

Cleverly,  Mr.,  147. 

Cloyne,  Bishop  of,  10. 

Coates,  David,  319. 

Coffin,  53. 

Coffin,  Nathan,  38. 

Coffin,  Tristram,  270,  327. 

Coleman,  Benjamin,  40. 

Commons,  House  of,  105. 

Compton,  Bishop,  20. 

Concord,  136. 

Congregationalists,  65,  115,  134,  252, 
254. 

Congress,  154,  155,  159,168,  177,  184, 
185, 187, 189 ;  Bass  said  to  pray  for, 
200 ;  Fast  Days  appointed  by,  201 ; 
209,211. 

Connecticut,  92,  174  ;  its  Churches  ad- 
vocate having  a  Bishop,  216  ;  217  ; 
convention  in,  237,  238 ;  lay  influ- 
ence in,  242  ;  receives  Bishop  Sea- 
bury,  260  ;  discussions  in,  264  ;  267. 

Coombs,  William,  320. 

Cooper,  Rev.  Dr.,  152,  315. 


INDEX. 


343 


Goran,  Thomas,  112,  117. 

Comwallis,  Nova  Scotia,  207. 

Cossitt,  Rev.  Mr.,  128,  149,  204,  205. 

Cotton,  John,  27. 

"CoiincUof  Advice,"  324. 

"  Cradle  of  Liberty,"  112. 

Cromwell,  ()2,  130. 

Cudworth,  178. 

Cushing,  Caleb,  315. 

Cashing-,  Thomas,  5. 

Cutler,  Joseph,  327. 

Cutler,  Timothy,  9, 10, 12,  18 ;  preaches 

at  Mr.  Plant's  funeral,  51 ;   funeral 

of,  87. 
Cutler,  Samuel,  327. 
Cutler,  William,  327. 
Cutter,  David,  270. 
Cutter,  Joseph,  202. 
Cutter,  Samuel,  269,  273,  284,  289. 
Claggett,  Bishop,  302,  304,  305,  306, 

310. 
Curwen,  Judge,  134. 
Custis,  Mrs.,  137. 

Dalton,  Tristram,  112,  135,  158 ;  dele- 
gate to  Convention,  242  ;  instructions 
to,  243  ;  attends  a  Convention,  249  ; 
272,  285,  289,  290,  317. 
Danbury,  174. 
Dartmouth  College,  147. 
Davenport,  A.,  110. 
Deberdt,  Dennys,  96. 
Deblois,  112. 
Dedham,  103,  113,  115,  116,  127,  139, 

147,  297. 
Dehon,  Theodore,  322. 
De  Lavme,  Thomas,  83,  84,  126,  12/. 
Delaware,  238,  270. 
Dexter,  Timothy,  317. 
Dissenters,  attitude  towards  Church  of 
England,    64 ;    use    Queen    Anne's 
Chapel,  66 ;  discipline  of,  86 ;  raise 
an  alarm,  95 ;  126. 
Doddridge,  92. 
Dorchester,  3,  119. 
Dover,  174. 

Dowse,  Joseph,  109,  110. 
Dudley,  Dorothy,  137. 
Dudley,  Governor,  33,  35,  36,  41,  42. 
Dummer  Academy,  318. 

Ecclesiastieus,  167. 

Eliot,  John,  60. 

Ellis,  Mr.,  147. 

Endicott,  Governor,  26. 

England,  journey  to,  93;  Puritanism 
in,  05  ;  90 ;  spiritual  courts  in,  97  ; 
bishops  in,  98 ;  missionaries  from, 
114 ;  representatives  of,  124  ;  pam- 


phlets published  in,  167  ;  Grand 
Rebellion  iu,  194  ;  securing  Episco- 
pate from,  260;  Archbishops  in, 
292. 
Episcopacy,  Dr.  Chauncy  on,  83. 
Episcop.ll  Charitable  Society,  263. 
Episcopal  Church,  the  starting  of,  in 
Boston,  32  ;  adherence  to,  33  ;  peti- 
tion of  the  members  of,  33 ;  37 ; 
services  iu  Newbury,  42  ;  before  the 
Revolution,  93  ;  95  ;  orders  in,  99  ; 
parishes  of,  102 ;  clergy  of,  before 
the  Revolution,  123  ;  independence 
of,  137  ;  loval  congregations  of,  188  ; 
origin  of,  143 ;  state  of,  144  ;  rites 
and  ceremonies  of,  169;  advancing 
the  interests  of,  215  ;  Bishop  White's 
influence  on,  216;  development  of, 
217;  uniformity  of ,  220  ;  separation 
from,  247;  King's  Chapel  in  rela- 
tion to,  253 ;  King's  Chapel  separates 
from,  256;  protest  against  King's 
Chapel,  257;  union  of,  265;  Con- 
ventions of,  270  ;  vestries  of,  273  ; 
liberties  of,  277  ;  lay  convention  in, 
288,  289 ;  Constitution  of,  295. 

Episcopalians,  taxed,  47  ;  64  ;  in  Massa- 
chusetts, 77  ;  spirit  among,  79  ;  82  ; 
limitations  of,  92;  103;  theory  of 
worship,  104;  early,  112;  taxed, 
115  ;  patriots  among,  134. 

Episcopate,  94,  222. 

Essex,  County  of,  35,  267. 

Euclid's  Elements,  6. 

Exeter,  120. 

Eyre,  John,  34. 

Falmouth,  138,  174. 

Faneuil,  Benjamin,  110. 

Faneuil,  Peter,  112. 

Farris,  William.  327. 

Fayerweather,  Rev.  S.,  91,  120,  149. 

Fiske,  John,  132,217. 

Fisher,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  185,  218,  222 

232,  238,  2.39,  249,  258,  296. 
Fletcher,  John,  270. 
Flynt,  Henry,  17. 
Fort  William,  185. 
Foster,  Isaac,  236. 
"  Foundlings  Hospital,^'  112. 
Framham,  Collector,  184. 
France,  187. 

Frankland,  Charles  Henry,  02. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  187. 
Franklin  Place,  323. 
Freeman,  Rev.  James,  228,  230,  231, 

251,  252,  253,  254,  255,  257. 
Frothingham,  Gibnan,  328. 
Frye,  P.,  185. 


344 


INDEX. 


Fulham,  20,  41. 
Fumival's  Inn,  196. 

GaUishan,  Abram,  158,  270,  328. 

Gardiner,  112. 

Gardiner,  Eev.  J.  S.  J.,  296,  302,  306, 
307,  322,  333. 

Gates,  Mrs.,  137. 

General  Convention,  253,  259,264,268. 

General  Court,  case  of  Newbury  be- 
fore, 29 ;  command  of,  30 ;  opposi- 
tion of,  39  ;  petition  on  taxation  to, 
47  ;  97. 

Gentleman's  Magazine,  19. 

Georgetown,  90. 

Gerry,  Elbridge,  97,  98,  272,  285,  289, 
290. 

Glasgow,  182. 

Gloucester,  106,  190,  203. 

Glover,  General,  317. 

Goddard,  112. 

Gordon's  Geographical  Grammar,  6. 

Grafton,  Duke  of,  109. 

Grand  Lodge,  121,  328. 

Graves,  J.,  139, 194,  195,  219,  222,  226. 

Gravesand's  Natural  Philosophy,  6. 

Great  Barrington,  103. 

Great  Britain,  100, 182. 

Greaton,  Rev.  Jas.,  91. 

Green,  112. 

Green,  Joseph,  54. 

Green,  Richard,  281,  296,  308. 

Greene,  Benjamin,  249. 

Greene  Foundation,  117,  140. 

Greene,  Rufus,  110. 

Greene,  Thomas,  55,  110,  117. 

Greenleaf,  Benjamin,  3l9. 

Greenleaf ,  Jonathan,  319. 

Greenleaf,  Stephen,  249. 

Grev,  H.,  117. 

Griffith,  Mr.,  74,  93. 

Griswold,  Bishop, '321. 

Guadaloupe,  226. 

Hale,  Rev.  Moses,  8. 

Hale,  Samuel,  165,  187,  213. 

Halifax,  139. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  135. 

Hammersmith,  ISO. 

Hammond's  Annotations,  11. 

Hancock,  Belcher,  17. 

Hanover,  103,  113. 

Harris,  Rev.  Henry,  33,  41,  42. 

Harris,  Rev.  William,  296,  307. 

Harrison,  Peter,  103. 

Hart,  83,  126,  127. 

Harvard  College,  4,  10,  11,  17,  55,  114, 

140,  150,  187,  318,  320. 
Haven,  Rev.  Mr.,  116,  120. 


HaverhiU,  204. 
Hawkins,  95. 
Hazard,  112. 
Henry,  Patrick,  135. 
Heywood,  Anthony,  3,  117. 
Hicks,  Rev.  Galen,  322,  333. 
Higginson,  Mr.,  37,  38. 
Hiliiard,  Rev.  Timothy,  322,  333. 
Hind,  Rev.  Dr.,  128,  129. 
Hoare  &  Co.,  177. 
Holderness,  161,  282. 
Holmes,  Dr.  Abiel,  103. 
Holyoke,  Edward,  17. 
Holyoke,  Dr.,  185. 
Honduras,  Bay  of,  107. 
Hooker,  11. 
Hooper,  Samuel,  236. 
Hooper,  Stephen,  319,  328. 
Hooper,  Thomas,  328. 
Hopkinton,  60,  61,  62,  103,  150. 
Housatonic,  321. 
Huse,  WiUiam,  34,  43. 
Hutchinson,  Governor,  133. 

Independence,  Declaration  of,  1.32, 134, 
140 ;  signers  of,  144 ;  effect  on 
churches,  154 ;  Bass  charged  with 
reading,  159 ;  Bass  does  not  read, 
176  ;  198 ;  effect  of,  200 ;  209,  213. 

Independents,  44,  64. 

Indians,  60,  61,  78. 

Ingersol,  Joseph,  158. 

Inglis,  Rev.  Dr.,  192,  205,  209. 

Ipswich,  43. 

Ivers,  James,  329. 

Jackson,  Abraham,  270,  327. 
Jackson,  Charles,  328. 
Jackson,  Jonathan,  285,  289. 
Jaffrey,  George,  181,  185,  275. 
Jarvis,  Rev.  Abraham,  325. 
Jarvis,  Thomas,  236. 
Jenkins,  George,  170,  328. 
Jenkins,  John,  270. 
Jenkins,  Lewis,  202,  270. 
Jewet,  Rev.  Mr.,  120. 
Jewett,  Justice,  42,  43. 
Johnson,  Rev.  Samuel,  9. 
Jones,  Thomas,  158. 

East,  Thomas,  296,  308. 
Kelby,  Christopher,  109. 
Kennebeck  River,  90. 
Kennett,  Dr.  White,  40. 
Kent,  Joseph,  327. 
Kenwood,  Peter,  109,  110. 
King,  Dr.,  33,  42. 
King,  George,  1.33. 
King  George  II.,  105 


INDEX. 


345 


King  George  III.,  69. 

King,  Rufus,  317. 

King's  Chapel,  Boston,  missionaries  at, 
9  ;  building  of,  'J5  ;  founding  of,  28  ; 
clergy  of,  o3  ;  organ  of,  55  ;  wealthy 
churchmen  of,  62 ;  conventions  in, 
87,  88  ;  petition  from,  i>4  ;  founding 
of,  102 ;  church  building  of,  lOo ; 
decoration  of,  104  ;  loans  surplices 
to  Trinity  Church,  111  ;  Dr.  Caner 
at,  114  ;  collection  taken  for  cap- 
tives, 117;  gets  part  of  the  Price 
estate,  117  ;  Bass  preaches  in,  122  ; 
133,  151,  152 ;  concert  in,  227 ;  lay 
reader  at,  228  ;  not  present  at  con- 
vention, 251  ;  Freeman  minister  of, 
252 ;  makes  changes  in  the  liturgy, 
253  ;  leaders  at,  254 ;  ceases  to  be 
an  Episcopal  Church,  256  •  defec- 
tion of,  258. 

Kingston,  South,  149. 

King,  William,  105. 

Lambton,  Rev.  John,  Chaplain  of  the 
Ship  Phoenix ;  appointed  to  New- 
bury, 41 ;  resigns  his  parish,  43 ; 
49. 

Lanark,  County  of,  183. 

Lanesborough,  103,  297. 

Larive,  Monsignor  de,  226. 

Laud,  Archbishop,  27,  94. 

Laughton,  Joseph,  328. 

Lecky,  131. 

Le  Grand,  Compendium  Logica,  6. 

Le  Clerc,  11. 

Lewis,  Rev.  Stephen,  148,  218,  222. 

Lexington,  136. 

Little,  Jacob,  328. 

Livermore,  272. 

Liverpool,  234. 

Livingston,  Governor,  82. 

LlandafF,  Bishop  of,  82. 

Locke,  6. 

London,  84,  96,  112,  158,  175. 

London,  Bishop  of,  receives  letter  from 
Wardens  of  King's  Chapel,  13  ;  re- 
ceives letters  concerning  Bass,  19  ; 
ordains  Bass,  20,  22,  23  ;  applied  to 
for  a  minister,  31 ;  petition  to,  32  ; 
answers  the  petition,  41 ;  jurisdic- 
tion of,  92  ;  94  ;  gives  a  bell  to  New- 
buryport,  126 ;  145. 

Louisburg,  112. 

Lowth,  10. 

Loyalists,  1-34,  176, 184,  187,  205. 

*'  Loyalists  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion," 131. 

Lucas,  Rev.  Henry,  appointed  mission- 
ary, 43 ;  arrives   in   Newbury,   44  ; 


baptizes  cliildren  in  Salisbury,  44; 

death  of,  45 ;  49. 
Lunt,  Skipper,  30. 
Lutheran,  04. 
Lyon,  Rev.  John,  89,  91,  102. 

Macgaw,  Rev.  Mr.,  196. 

Madison,  Bishop,  301,  304. 

Madison,  President,  135. 

Majory,  Joseph,  107. 

Malbone,  112. 

Maiden,  8. 

Mansfield,  Isaac,  234. 

Marblehead,  28,  45,  62,  64,  97,  102, 
104,  106,  118,  138,  147,  177,  234, 
258,  274. 

Marsh,  Thomas,  17. 

Marshall,  135. 

Marshfield,  103,  113,  146,  218,  222, 
249,  274. 

Maryland,  92,  217,  237,  238,  259,  270 ; 
bishop  of,  298  ;  302. 

Massachusetts,  pamphlets  printed  in, 
86  ;  clergy  of,  88  ;  Episcopalians  in, 
92,  94,  95 ;  people  of,  95  ;  English 
churches  in,  101,  102  ;  loyalists  in, 
134 ;  attitude  of  ministers  during 
the  Revolution,  153 ;  forsaken  par- 
ishes in,  1 58  ;  Episcopate  in,  174 ; 
closed  churches  in,  184 ;  Bass  re- 
mains in,  192 ;  Mr.  Clark  leaves, 
195 ;  maintains  the  importance  of 
the  Episcopate,  216 ;  differs  from 
Connecticut,  220 ;  convention  in, 
222 ;  clergy  of,  224 ;  churches  in, 
237 ;  convention  in,  239 ;  attitude 
of,  242 ;  temper  of  the  men  of,  243  ; 
revision  of  liturgy  in,  250;  King's 
Chapel  in,  251 ;  opinion  of  Bishop 
Seabury,  263  ;  discussions  in,  264 ; 
convention  held  in  Salem,  265  ;  an 
act  of  the  clergy  of,  266 ;  laity  of, 
268 ;  deputies  from,  269  ;  letters 
sent  to  churches  in,  270 ;  292  ;  dio- 
cese of,  321. 

Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  320. 

Masons,  170. 

Mather,  Cotton,  7,  36,  55,  64,  315. 

Mayflower,  1. 

Mayhew,  Jonathan,  at  College,  5 ;  at- 
tacks the  church,  77  ;  writes  about 
Mr.  Miller,  78  ;  quotation  from,  78 ; 
79;  80,81. 

Mayhew,  Joseph,  17. 

McGilchrist,  Rev.  William,  15,  63,  87, 
91,  97,  102,  147,  184,  185. 

Mead,  Samuel,  332. 

Merrill,  Abraham,  30,  34,  37. 

Merrill,  John,  34,  42. 


346 


INDEX. 


Merrimack,  60. 

Merrimac  Humane  Society,  330. 

Meserve,  George,  185. 

Methodism,  72. 

Middletown,  237,  238,  239,  242,  249. 

Middlesex,  13-5,  185. 

Mieux,  Rev.  Mr.,  93. 

Mifflin,  137. 

Miles,  Samuel,  13,  33. 

Miller,  Charles,  252,  253,  258. 

Miller,  Ebenezer,  297,  308. 

Miller,  Rev.  F.,  17. 

Miller,  William,  132,  182. 

Mills,  Johannis,  105. 

"  Missions  of  the  Church  of  England," 
95. 

Montague,  Rev.  William,  258,  268, 
296,  307. 

Montreal,  117. 

Morgan,  Mrs.,  137. 

Moriee,  Rev.  Dr.,  144 ;  Bass  writes  to, 
161,  162 ;  letter  to,  175 ;  receives 
letter  from  P.  Frye,  183  ;  receives 
letter  from  Dr.  Walter,  196. 

Morland,  William,  158,  182,  185,  270, 
327. 

MorreU,  Rev.  William,  25. 

Morris,  Gouverneur,  135. 

Morse,  Humphrey,  328. 

Morss,  Rev.  James,  preaches  "  Cen- 
tury Sermon,"  48 ;  writes  of  Bass' 
charity,  157  ;  on  Bass'  attitude,  169  ; 
tribute  to  Bass  by,  314,  322  ;  gives 
an  account  of  Bass'  death,  332 ;  trib- 
ute to,  335. 

Morton,  Perez,  152,  296,  300,  308. 

Mossom,  Rev.  David,  45,  46,  107- 

Mullens,  Priscilla,  1. 

Murray,  Rev.  Mr.,  320. 

Narragansett,  120. 

Neal,  Captain  N.  V.,  107. 

Negroes,  61. 

Newbury,  parish  of,  15  ;  origin  of 
parish  of,  28  ;  question  disturbing 
the  inhabitants  of,  31 ;  the  planting 
of  the  Church  in,  32 ;  Mr.  Harris 
preaches  in,  33 ;  best  interests  of, 
37  ;  Dr.  Coleman  writes  about,  40 ; 
authorities  of,  42  ;  50,  58,  67  ;  collec- 
tion for  charities  in,  117  ;  Bailey  at, 
118;  death  of  Whitefield  in,  119;  190, 
203. 

Newburyport,  St.  Paul's  Church,  8. 
12  ;  parish  conditions  of,  14  ;  his- 
torians of,  35  ;  ministerial  work  in, 
82  ;  83,  102,  104,  105 ;  Whitefield 
buried  in,  120  ;  St.  John's  Lodge  in, 
122  ;  letter  from,   125,   127 ;    Com- 


mittee of  Safety  in,  135  ;  141 ;  rab- 
ble in,  156 ;  harbor  of,  159 ;  mis- 
sionary in,  167  ;  historian  of,  169 ; 
missions  in,  170  ;  loyalty  of  Bass  in, 
181;  Weigher  of  Customs  in,  183; 
distance  from  Salem,  184 ;  no  Tories 
in,  184  ;  186 ;  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence in,  198 ;  no  loyalists  in, 
199 ;  laymen  of,  220,  242 ;  258 ;  lay- 
men's Convention  in,  269 ;  rector 
prominent  in  Church,  295  ;  Bass  re- 
turns to,  314  ;  new  church  in,  327  ; 
Humane  Society  in,  330. 

New  England,  clergy  of,  94 ;  100 ;  "  Ma- 
jestie's  Cliappel "  in,  105  ;  a  farmer 
of,  119  ;  "  Dark  Day  "  in,  173  ;  dis- 
senters in,  199  ;  attitude  of,  242. 

Newgate  Prison,  84. 

New  Hampshire,  70,  80,  88,  118,  122, 
127,    128,    140,    147;    Bass    travels 
in,  161 ;  Loyalists   in,    175 ;    landed 
interests,  177 ;  185  ;  Bass  goes  into, 
204  ;  218,  237,  249 ;  clergy  of,  meet 
at  Salem,  265  ;  an  Act  of  the  clergy 
of,  266  ;    lay  deputies    from,   269 
a  letter  sent   to  churches  in,    270 
Churches  in,  274 ;   Bishop  for,  276 
Bass  invited  to  be  Bishop  of,  321. 

New  Haven,  114. 

New  Holderness,  274,  282. 

New  Jersey,  92,  99,  217,  238,  270. 

New  London,  210. 

Newport,  103,  149,  157,  249. 

New  York,  82,  92,  162,  163,  187,  237, 
238,  267,  270 ;  Bishop  of,  298,  302. 

Nicene  Creed,  249,  252. 

Nicholson,  Governor,  41,  43,  lOG. 

North  River,  174. 

Norwalk,  325. 

Nova-Scotia,  41,  207,  218. 

Nowell,  Joseph,  328. 

Noyes,  Thomas,  37. 

Ogden,  Rev.  J.  C,  258,  268. 

Old  South  Meeting-House,  25, 152,  251. 

Oliver,  Rev.  Thomas  Fitch,  258,  268. 

Olney,  112. 

Onslow,  Honorable  Arthur,  105. 

Otis,  Samuel  A.,  327. 

Oxford,  Jesus  College,  33. 

Packer,  Captain,  198. 

Packer,  Thomas,  328. 

Palfrey,  Col.  William,  137. 

Pardee,  Rev.  Amos,  322. 
I  Parker,   Rev.    Samuel,  136,  140,  143, 
144,    151  ;    refutes   charges   against 
Bass,  160  ;  the  wise  policy  of,  174  ; 
receives  thanks  from   the   Society, 


INDEX. 


347 


177 ;  receives  letter  from  the  So- 
ciety, 17'.t ;  report  coucerning,  184  ; 
sister  of.  1S7 ;  disagrees  with  the 
clergy  of  the  province,  19o  ;  leaves 
out  prayers  for  the  King,  I'Jd  ;  pro- 
minent in  reorganizing  the  church, 
217;  writes  to  Bishop  White,  2 IS; 
attends  a  Convention  in  Boston,  222  ; 
attests  an  entry  in  the  records  of 
Trinity  Church,  227  ;  receives  letter 
from  King's  Chapel,  228 ;  writes 
a  letter  to  Proprietoi-s  of  King's 
Chapel,  229  ;  concerning  an  exchange 
of  pulpits  with  Mr.  Freeman,  230; 
refuses  to  exchange,  231 ;  activity 
of,  237  ;  attends  a  Convention  in 
New  York,  23S ;  goes  to  Middle- 
town,  238  ;  makes  alterations  in  the 
Liturgy  of  Trinity  Church,  251  ; 
writes  concerning  Freeman,  254  ; 
protests  against  ordination  of  Free- 
man, 258  ;  accepts  Seabury's  conse- 
cration, 261 ;  receives  letter  from 
Bass,  262  ;  writes  to  Bishop  Sea- 
bury,  263  ;  suggestion  that  he  be 
made  Bishop,  264  ;  desires  union  of 
the  churches,  264 ;  signs  the  Act 
of  the  Massachusetts  clergy,  268 ; 
a  Delegate  to  General  Convention, 
268,  279  ;  not  accepted  as  Delegate 
by  St.  Paul's  Church,  Newbury- 
port,  284;  attends  Convention  in 
Boston,  296 ;  writes  to  Bishop 
White,  300  ;  302 ;  letter  to  Bishop 
White,  306  ;  signs  testimonials  of 
Bass,  307 ;  preaches  funeral  ser- 
mon ,  of  Bishop  Bass,  333,  334 ; 
335. 

Parker,  William,  140. 

Parsons,  Rev.  Moses,  120. 

Parsons,  Theophilus,  319. 

Pearson  on  the  Creed,  11. 

Peck,  Professor  W.  D.,  320. 

Pemiberton,  Dr.,  133. 

Pennsylvania,  217,  224 ;  convention  in, 
237  ;  delegates  from,  238  ;  request 
to  the  Bishop  of,  to  consecrate  Bass, 
267  ;  bishop  of,  298. 

Peters,  Colonel,  185,  190. 

Peters,  Richard,  328. 

Pettingal,  John,  327. 

Philadelphia,  220,  224,  325;  conven- 
tion in,  237,  265,  269,  286  ;  expense 
of  journey  to,  298. 

PhUlips,  Mercv,  317. 

Pipe-Stave  Hill,  29,  30,  42. 

Piscataqua,  174,  185. 

Plant,  Rev.  Matthias,  needs  an  assist- 
ant, 13 ;    has   difficulties  with    the 


Proprietors  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
14 ;  letters  to  Dr.  Beareroft,  14, 
15;  permits  Ba-ss  to  preach,  16;  ill 
health  of,  18  ;  appointed  missionary 
in  Newbury,  46  ;  keeps  a  diary,  47  ; 
a  friend  of  Archelaus  Woodman, 
47  ;  48,  49 ;  death  of,  50 ;  Coffin 
writes  about,  53 ;  executors  of  the 
estate  of,  57  ;  61,  63,  173. 

Plum  Island,  330. 

Plymouth,  Rock,  1 ;  colony,  3,  25  ;  103  ; 
218. 

Pole's  Synopsis  Critic,  11. 

Porter,  John,  282. 

Porter,  Thomas,  236. 

Portland,  274,  332. 

Portsmouth,  70,  71,  111,  120,  122,  140, 
141,  147,  204. 

Pownalboro,  200. 

Prayer  Book,  first  used  in  Massachu- 
setts, 25  ;  petitions  for  Royal  family, 
124 ;  services  in  Cambridge,  137 ; 
objections  to  use  of,  139 ;  changes 
made  in,  141  ;  changes  made  in,  at 
Trinity  Church,  Boston,  and  New- 
buryport,  153 ;  revision  of,  237 ; 
revision  of,  in  Connecticut,  241 ; 
changes  made  in,  at  King's  Chapel, 
252. 

Presbyterian,  44,  64,  330. 

Price,  112. 

Price',  Rev.  Dr.,  62,  94,  150. 

Price,  Wmiam,  117. 

Prideaux's  connotations,  11. 

Prince,  James,  327. 

Proctor,  Thomas,  2.36. 

Prohibitory  Act,  1.32. 

"Proposed  Book,"  2.50,  261. 

Prout,  William  AV.,  327. 

Providence,  149,  194,  200,  222. 

Provoost,  Bishop,  applied  to  for  the 
ordination  of  Freeman,  253  ;  opposes 
Bishop  Seabnry,  260  ;  265,  290 ;  re- 
quested to  consecrate  Bass,  291  ; 
signs  consecration  papers,  310  ;  con- 
secrates Bishop  Jarvis,  325. 

Puritans,  traits  of,  27  ;  78,  79,  94  ;  op- 
position of,  95  ;  96,  114,  115. 

Putnam,  Rev.  Aaron,  8. 

Quakers,  persecution  of,  27  ;  at  church 
service,  44. 

Queen  Anne,  94. 

Queen  Anne's  Chapel.  Newbury,  14, 
29  ;  Mr.  Lambton  officiates  in,  41  ; 
worshippers  in,  42  ;  removal  of  par- 
ishioners from,  48  ;  Mr.  Plant  buried 
in  church  -  yard  of,  50  ;  unlawful 
use  of,  65 ;  66  ;  67,  194. 


348 


INDEX. 


Queen's  Chapel,  Portsmouth,  111,  249, 

258,  274. 
Queen  Mary,  105. 
Quincy,  297. 
Quiney,  Josiah,  7. 

Rand,  Edward,  270,  327. 

Rand,  E.  S.,  123. 

Ratcliife,  Rev.  Robert,  25. 

"  Reasons  for  withdrawal  of  Salary," 
187. 

"  Remarks  on  Dr.  Mayhew,"  80. 

Revere,  Paul,  135. 

Revolution,  The,  94  ;  drifting  towards 
95  ;  factors  in  bringing  about,  98 
before  the,  101 ;  beginning  of,  114 
distractions  preceding,  123. 

Rhode  Island,  80,  88,  89,  92,  112,  139, 
149,  218,  219,  222,  224*,  234,  249. 

Rivington,  Mr.,  127. 

Rogers,  Rev.  Mr.,  130. 

Rogers,  Rev.  John,  8. 

Rogers,  Robert,  34. 

Rogers,  Rev.  W.,  226. 

Rouselet,  Rev.  Monsignor  de,  226. 

Roxbury,  Hog  Bridge,  1,  2  ;  140. 

Rowe,  John,  121. 

Rowley,  120. 

Royal  Exchange,  London,  84. 

RudhaU,  Abel,  106. 

Sabine,  131. 

Sagadahoc,  25. 

Salem,   persecutions   in,    27 ;  mission- 
aries at,  63 ;  87,  103,  104,  113,  147 
distance   from    Newburyport,    184 
report    in,    concerning    Bass,    184 
Court   of   Probate,    185 ;  Mr.    Hale 
from,  187 ;  Mr.  Fisher  in,  218  ;  222, 
249, 258,  267,  272,  274,  275,  277, 281. 

Salisbury,  28,  44,  50. 

Saltonstail,  Governor,  9. 

Sandford,  108. 

Sargent,  Rev.  W.,  89,  91, 102,  137, 149, 
178, 191. 

Sawyer,  Joseph,  328. 

Sawyer,  Josiah,  34. 

Sawyer,  Micaijah,  319. 

Sawyer,  Samuel,  34. 

Scituate,  78,  103,  113,  146,  147,  149, 
194,  218,  222,  274. 

Scotland,  238. 

Scott,  10,  11. 

Seabury,  Bishop,  221 ;  welcomed  by 
his  diocese,  238 ;  addresses  to,  241  ; 
opposes  lay  influence,  242 ;  Free- 
man applies  to  him  for  ordination, 
253  ;  reception  of,  by  church  at  large, 
260;    objects  to    the   fifth    funda- 


mental principle,  261 ;  Bass  writes 
about,  262  ;  264  ;  suggestion  that 
he  unite  with  the  Bishops  of  the 
English  line,  265  ;  fears  that  he 
might  not  consecrate  Bass,  268 ;  re- 
ceived in  Philadelphia,  290;  re- 
quested to  consecrate  Bass,  291 ; 
death  of,  325. 

Seeker,  Archbishop,  80,  81,  9.5. 

Sewall,  Samuel,  writes  to  Governor 
Saltonstail,  9 ;  letter  book  of,  36 ; 
letter  to  Thomas  Noyes,  37  ;  letter 
to  John  Webster,  37,  38  ;  letter  to 
Nathan  Coffin,  38  ;  writes  about  the 
death  of  Mr.  Lucas,  45;  refers  to 
slavery,  61 ;  296,  308. 

Seymour,  Richard,  25. 

Sharp,  10,  11. 

Sheriff,  Colonel,  193. 

Sherlock,  Bishop,  10,  20,  92. 

Shepherd,  Samuel,  283. 

Sherman,  James,  279. 

Shirley,  Governor,  110,  111. 

Simpson,  Jonathan,  109,  110. 

Smith,  Heiu-v,  281,  296,  300,  308. 

Smith,  Rev.  William,  259,  308,  325. 

Smyth,  Andrew,  283. 

Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  9,  11,  14; 
Dr.  Coleman  remonstrates  with,  40 ; 
letter  to,  from  Wardens  of  Queen 
Anne's  Chapel,  50,  60  ;  attacks 
against,  77,  78 ;  aims  of,  80 ;  re- 
quest for  Bishops,  88 ;  plan  of, 
for  Bishop,  94 ;  gives  money  for 
Bishop's  house,  99;  reports  to,  113; 
money  sent  by,  114;  receipts  of 
diminished,    124  ;   Parker  writes  to, 

144  ;  missionaries  of,  leave  Boston, 

145  ;  dismisses  Bass,  157 ;  proceed- 
ings of,  161 ;  the  accusers  of  Bass, 
166 ;  Bass  publishes  a  pamphlet 
concerning,  167  ;  Bass  twenty  years 
a  missionary  of,  168  ;  archives  of, 
175  ;  neglect  of  Bass,  177 ;  letter 
to,  179 ;  reports  carried  to,  181  ; 
library  of,  in  Salem,  185  ;  Mr.  Hale 
makes  statement  to,  186 ;  evidence 
of,  against  Bass,  190  ;  considers  the 
mission  at  Newburyport  vacant,  200  ; 
Bass'  long  service  in,  202 ;  Bass  un- 
successful in  his  attempts  to  con- 
vince, 203  ;  loyal  missionary  of,  204  ; 
refuses  to  reverse  its  decision,  206 ; 
its  caution,  209 ;  232. 

Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 

121. 
Sohier,  112. 
South  Carolina,  107,  270,  322. 


INDEX. 


349 


Spotwood's  History  of  tbe  Church  iu 
.Scotland,  11. 

Spriug,  Kev.  Mr.,  o20. 

Staff ordshii-e,  England,  46. 

Stamp  Act,  82. 

Standish,  Miles,  1. 

St.  Andrew's  Church,  Scituate,  103. 

St.  John's  Church,  Providence,  220. 

St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  85. 

St.  John's  Lodge,  122,  170. 

St.  Luke's  Church,  Lanesborough,  103, 
297. 

St.  Michael's  Church,  Marblehead, 
founded  102 ;  104  ;  decorations  in, 
104 ;  letter  to  Governor  Nicholson, 
lOG ;  Bass  baptizes  in,  232 ;  lay 
reader  at,  232  ;  258  ;  274  ;  206. 

St.  Paid's  Church,  Dedham,  103. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Hopkinton,  103. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Narragansett,  120. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Newburyport,  letter 
of  the  Wardens,  12 ;  building  of, 
14 ;  origin  of,  29  ;  48,  49,  54 ;  pur- 
chases an  organ,  54, 55  ;  65, 102, 104  ; 
offertory  at,  116  ;  140,  141,  157 ; 
masonic  ser^dce  in,  170  ;  217,  258, 
267 ;  laymen's  convention  in,  269  ; 
meetings  of  Wardens  and  Vestry, 
270 ;  letter  from  Christ  Church, 
Boston,  277  ;  receives  letter  from 
Salem,  276 ;  receives  letter  from 
Trinity  Church,  Boston,  280  ;  re- 
ceives letter  from  New  Holderness, 
282  ;  records  of,  283,  284,  285,  286  ; 
writes  to  its  delegates,  286 ;  290  ; 
317. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Norwalk,  325. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Salem,  103,  104, 
105,  113,  249,  258,  273. 

St.  Thomas'  Church,  Taunton,  103, 
113. 

Stoughton,  103,  113,  147. 

Sullivan,  General,  187. 

Talbot,  John,  28. 

Taunton,  89,  103,  105,  112,  113,  117. 

Tenison,  Archbishop,  99. 

Thatcher,  117. 

"  The  Character  of  the  Beloved  Dis- 
ciple," 171. 

"  The  Critical  Period  of  American  His- 
tory," 217. 

"The  Dark  Dav,"  17.3. 

"  The  Image  of  the  Beast,"  85. 

"  The  Massachusetts  Centinel,"  256. 

"  The  Real  Advantages,"  86. 

Thomas,  Thomas,  158,  328. 

Thompson,  Rev.  Eben,  91,  102,  113, 
140,  146. 


Tillotson,  11. 

Toppan,  Christopher,  36,  39. 

Toppan,  Stephen,  328. 

Tories,  124,  131,  132,  133,  150,  184, 
212. 

Torrey,  William,  185. 

Towgood,  Micajah,  86. 

Tracy,  John,  158,  170,  243,  248,  284, 
285,289,317. 

Tracy,  Nathaniel,  170. 

Tracy,  Nicholas,  317,  327. 

Tracy,  Patrick,  317. 

Treaty  of  Peace,  140,  215. 

Trinity  Church.  Boston,  founded,  102  ; 
church  buildiug  of,  103  ;  records  of, 
107  ;  wardens  of,  108 ;  plate  for, 
109  ;  receives  part  of  the  Price  es- 
tate, 117;  Masonic  ceremonies  in, 
121  ;  140,  143,  145,  151,  217,  222 ; 
Catholic  service  in,  226  ;  concert  in, 
227  ;  249,  2-58,  259,  274,  280,  290  ; 
Bishop  Bass  welcomed  in,  310; 
ordination  in,  322  ;  convention  held 
in,  -333. 

Trinity  Church,  Newport,  218. 

Troutbeck,  Rev.  John,  91,  102,  190. 

Tudor,  William,  290. 

Turner,  George,  275. 

Tyng,  Dudley  A.,  308,  318,  328,  333. 

Unitarianism,  252. 
Usher,  John,  91,  249. 

Vermont,  321. 
Vinal,  John,  158. 
Virginia,  92,  237,  270. 

WaU,  John.  182. 

Wall's  "History  of  Infant  Baptism," 
76. 

Walter,  Rev.  William,  91,  102,  114, 
1.38,  140,  141 ;  writes  concerning 
Bass,  162 ;  evidence  of,  190 ;  letter 
of,  192 ;  193,  205,  206,  208 ;  letter 
of,  210,  212 ;  attends  convention  in 
Boston,  296 ;  signs  letter  to  Bishop 
White,  300,  302,  .306;  signs  testi- 
monials, 307  ;  address  to  Bishop 
Bass,  310. 

Walter,  William,  Jr.,  296. 

Warren,  Dr.  Joseph,  152. 

Warren,  Rev.  Joseph,  296. 

Washington,  General,  135,  137,  209, 
319. 

Washington,  Mrs.,  137. 

Waterford,  190,  203. 

Watts'  Astronomy,  16. 

Weber,  John,  234,  236. 

Webster,  John,  37,  38. 


350 


INDEX. 


Weeks,  Rev.  J.  W.,  64,  91,  102,  138 
makes  charges   agaiust   Bass,    159 
hears  of  Bass'  charity  sermon,  160 
receives  letter  from  Bass,  166  ;  char- 
acter of,  167 ;   charges    Bass  to  his 
face,    177 ;    representations   against 
Bass,  190  ;  driven  from  his  mission, 
191 ;  converses  with  Bass,  19.3  ;  letter 
to  Dr.  Morice,  199  ;  writes  chai-ges 
against  Bass,   200 ;  talks  with   Dr. 
Walter,  208;  211. 

Wentworth,  Governor,  127,  166,  180, 
181. 

Wentworth,  Mark  Hy.,  181. 

West  Church,  Boston,  77. 

West  Haven,  Connecticut,  90. 

West  Indies,  317. 

Wethersfield,  137. 

Wheden,  Charles,  107. 

Wheeler,  Rev.  W.  W.,  102,  199,  218, 
222,  249,  296. 

Whigs,  the,  131. 

Whipple,  Oliver,  274, 

Whitby,  10. 

White,  Rev.  John,  83,  84,  85. 

White,  Bishop  William,  134 ;  influ- 
ence on  the  church,  216  ;  writes  to 
Parker,  217  ;  suggestions  concern- 
ing the  organization  of  the  church, 
219  ;  plan  of,  221  ;  draws  up  funda- 
mental principles,  238  ;  writes  to 
Charles  Miller,  2.02  ;  objects  to  the 
policy  of  King's  Chapel,  2.53,  258  ; 
works  on  the  Proposed  Book,  259 ; 
addresses  Bishop  Seabury,  260 ;  ex- 


plains the  fifth  fundamental  prin- 
ciple, 261  ;  makes  suggestions  to 
Massachusetts  Cliurches,  264 ;  sug- 
gests union  of  churches,  267  ;  Me- 
moirs of,  290 ;  requested  to  conse- 
crate Bass,  291  ;  hesitates  about 
consecrating  Bass,  293  ;  letter  to, 
299 ;  writes  to  Massachusetts  Church- 
men, 300 ;  letter  to,  301  ;  writes 
to  the  Committee,  303 ;  writes  to 
Bishop  Claggett,  304  ;  letter  to,  305  ; 
signs  consecration  papers,  310;  con- 
secrates Bishop  Jarvis,  325. 

^\Tiitefield,  11,  12,  13,  119,  120. 

Wigglesworth,  Edward,  319. 

Wigglesworth,  Michael,  7. 

Willard,  Rev.  Mr.,  333. 

Williams,  Charles,  279. 

Williams,  Dr.,  33. 

Williams,  Jonathan,  187. 

Williams,  Richard,  34. 

Williams,  Roger,  27. 

WiUiamson,  Rev.  Mr.,  232,  2-34, 

Winslow,  Rev.  Edward,  91,  102,  116, 
124,  139,  147,  194. 

Winthrop,  Mr.,  210. 

Wiswall,  Rev.  Mr.,  138,  191. 

Woart,  327. 

Wood,  Abner,  227. 

Woodbury,  241. 

Wren,  Sir  Christopher,  103. 

Wyer,  William,  327. 

Yale  College,  9,  114. 
York,  Arciibishop  of,  292. 


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